Family behind OxyContin maker offers 'sadness'
Two of the owners of the company that makes OxyContin acknowledged to a congressional committee on Thursday that the powerful prescription painkiller has played a role in the national opioid crisis, but stopped short of apologizing. (Dec. 17)
AP
The Justice Department accused Walmart Tuesday of contributing to the deadly opioid epidemic by filling thousands of invalid prescriptions and failing to report suspicious orders of opioids and other drugs placed by its pharmacies.
In its civil complaint, federal authorities allege "hundreds of thousands of violations" of the Controlled Substances Act, and are seeking billions of dollars in penalties.
"As one of the largest pharmacy chains and wholesale drug distributors in the country, Walmart had the responsibility and the means to help prevent the diversion of prescription opioids,” said Jeffrey Bossert Clark, the acting chief of Justice's Civil Division. “Instead, for years, it did the opposite ... This unlawful conduct contributed to the epidemic of opioid abuse throughout the United States."
Timothy Shea, acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said the retail giant's pharmacies routinely filled "illegitimate" prescriptions.
"Too many lives have been lost because of oversight failures and those entrusted with responsibility turning a blind eye," Shea said.
Justice action was the result of a years-long investigation by its Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force, officials said.
"As the operator of its pharmacies, Walmart knowingly filled thousands of controlled substance prescriptions that were not issued for legitimate medical purposes or in the usual course of medical practice, and that it filled prescriptions outside the ordinary course of pharmacy practice," federal officials said.
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Walmart accused of fueling opioid epidemic through in Justice Department lawsuit - USA TODAY"
Post a Comment