3,300 cases were brought by state and local governments seeking to hold companies accountable for an epidemic of opioid abuse that, according to US government data, led to nearly 500,000 overdose deaths between 1999 and 2019.
Excessive amounts of opioid pills flooded into communities
The first trial of four large pharmacy chains for the opioid epidemic in the United States has already begun. And two Ohio counties tried to convince the jury that companies are responsible for flooding their communities with addictive pain relievers.
Lake and Trumbull counties allege that oversight failures at pharmacies run by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. as well as CVS Health Corp, Walmart Inc and Giant Eagle Inc caused excessive amounts of opioid pills to flood their communities.
Thousands of similar lawsuits are pending against pharmaceutical companies
Attorneys for the counties and companies will deliver their opening statements to a federal jury in Cleveland. Where thousands of similar lawsuits are pending against pharmaceutical companies, drug distributors and pharmacies.
More than 3,300 cases have been filed primarily by state and local governments seeking to hold businesses accountable for an epidemic of opioid abuse that, according to US government data, led to nearly 500,000 overdose deaths between 1999 and 2019.
Pharmaceutical operators deny having acted ma
Pharmaceutical operators deny wrongdoing. CVS said its pharmacies “fill legitimate prescriptions written by licensed physicians.”
Walgreens said it takes pride in the judgment of its pharmacists and Giant Eagle said pharmacy inspectors concluded it was complying with the law.
Walmart did not respond to requests for comment.
THE CONSEQUENCES…
If the jury decides that the companies are responsible, District Judge Dan Polster will determine how much they must pay to mitigate or address the health crisis in the communities.
The magistrate urged the parties to reach an agreement.
The California case
In fact, just a few days ago, a man and a woman were arrested in a massive drug bust in Riverside, California, which led to the seizure of a sufficient quantity of a powerful synthetic opioid with the potential to kill more than 50 millions of people, authorities said.
The couple was taken into custody following an extensive investigation into an alleged opioid drug ring in Riverside County.
On August 17, police raided a home in Perris, where they seized 21 kilograms (46 pounds) of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl and 10,000 times more powerful than morphine in lethal doses, according to the functionaries.
Police said this could be the largest carfentanil seizure in Riverside County history. “If mixed with other drugs, the 21 kilos of carfentanil seized could have been enough to kill more than 50 million people,” police said. traffickers.
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