Walmart has agreed to settle a long-running US government lawsuit accusing its pharmacies of failing to properly monitor and dispense opioids and other controlled substances.
The US Justice Department said the agreement resolves allegations that Walmart violated federal requirements under the Controlled Substances Act by failing to meet its responsibilities for monitoring and dispensing controlled medications.
The government did not immediately disclose the financial terms of the settlement.
Justice Department officials said they were satisfied with the resolution of the allegations against Walmart and its pharmacies.
Walmart also confirmed the settlement, saying it was pleased to put the matter behind it. The retailer added that it would continue supporting pharmacists as they provide care and medication to patients.
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Lawsuit Dates Back to 2020
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit against Walmart in 2020, alleging that the company’s pharmacies had repeatedly breached federal controlled-substance requirements dating back to 2013.
At the time, federal authorities warned that the retailer could potentially face billions of dollars in civil penalties if the allegations were upheld.
The case centred on Walmart’s systems for handling prescriptions and monitoring the distribution of controlled drugs, including opioids.
Previous $3.1 Billion Opioid Settlement
The latest agreement comes after Walmart reached a separate major settlement in 2022, agreeing to pay $3.1 billion to resolve thousands of lawsuits filed by state and local governments over its alleged role in the US opioid crisis.
That broader litigation focused on allegations concerning the distribution and sale of prescription opioids and their contribution to widespread addiction and overdose deaths.
Opioid Crisis Remains a Major US Health Challenge
The settlement comes against the backdrop of an opioid epidemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives across the United States.
While opioid-related deaths have fallen in recent years, the crisis has not disappeared. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to identify opioid misuse and overdose as a significant public-health problem.
For Walmart, the latest settlement closes another major legal chapter stemming from the nation’s opioid crisis, while questions surrounding the responsibilities of pharmacies and drug distributors remain central to efforts to prevent future misuse.
