Leonard S. Slavit | February 12, 2025
CVS, the major chain drug store and pharmacy, has been sued by the US Department of Justice after it was accused of filling illegal prescriptions for opioid medications, as well as billing federal health insurance programs for these drugs. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, CVS helped to contribute to the nationwide opioid epidemic. The company has said that the lawsuit mischaracterizes its actions, and it has not admitted to any wrongdoing.
What is CVS?
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. is a chain drug store and pharmacy, which is a subsidiary of CVS Health, headquartered out of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. In addition to distributing prescription medication, they also sell a number of consumer goods, as well as over-the-counter medication. It is one of America’s largest pharmacy chains, with more than 9,000 locations across the United States and employing more than 200,000 employees.
What is the Opioid Epidemic?
The opioid epidemic is an ongoing issue that has troubled many parts of the United States since the late 1990s, which is the result of large numbers of people becoming addicted to opioid drugs like heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. Many people who are addicted to opioids started their addiction after being prescribed opioid painkillers by their doctor, often without being appropriately informed of the dangers these medications posed. The result is a shocking number of people who suffered long-term health problems, as well as a skyrocketing rate of overdoses over the ensuing decades.
What is CVS Accused of Doing?
The lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice accuses CVS of knowingly engaging in illegal activities that encouraged the spread of opioid addiction, including pushing pharmacists to fill prescriptions without checking to see if they were legitimate and billing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid for these illegal prescriptions. Moreover, they are accused of ignoring warnings from their own employees that these sorts of abuses were occurring, refusing to address issues like understaffing that contributed to these problems.
Why Does This Matter?
While it is easy to push the blame for opioid addiction onto addicts themselves, the fact of the matter is that companies like CVS contributed to the spread of these problems. By failing to enact appropriate controls, they enabled people to have access to prescription painkillers that they should not have been able to obtain, facilitating addiction and overdoses in the process. This lawsuit is meant to help hold the company accountable for its potentially negligent actions, which may have cost people their lives. If you or someone you love has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, seeking the advice from an attorney experienced in personal injury law will help assure you get the compensation you deserve. The lawyers at Levine and Slavit, PLLC assist clients in New York City and Long Island in obtaining the damages they need to cope with being the victim of negligence. For more information or to schedule a consultation with our New York personal injury lawyers, call (212) 687 2777 or fill out our contact form.