The state of New Mexico asked a court on Tuesday to hold Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc accountable for fueling the state's opioid problem, giving the final argument in the latest of numerous cases against the pharmacy chain around the country.
A state lawyer told the judge in the 1st Judicial Circuit of New Mexico in Santa Fe that the state's opioid issue was a foregone conclusion as a result of Walgreens' actions. The lawyer accused the corporation of failing to "establish effective controls" to prevent opioid diversion onto the black market, alleging that it delivered questionable prescriptions without appropriate due diligence or paperwork.
The lawyer for Walgreens blamed the opioid issue on excessive prescriptions and smaller, "mom and pop" pharmacies with inadequate safeguards. He claimed that the state had failed to provide any proof that Walgreens provided prescriptions without a "legitimate medical purpose."
The non-jury trial began six weeks ago with accusations against Walmart Inc and Kroger Co, but both firms settled with the state last month. The details of those agreements have not been published, and the corporations have not responded to requests for comment.
According to federal figures, the opioid problem in the United States has resulted in more than 500,000 overdose deaths over the last two decades. More than 3,300 lawsuits, largely brought by local governments, have been filed blaming drugmakers, distributors, and drugstore chains of causing the issue.
Major drugmakers and distributors have agreed to pay tens of billions of dollars to resolve opioid cases, but pharmacies have yet to reach a countrywide agreement.
Two instances involving pharmacies have reached a conclusion. One case, brought by two Ohio counties, resulted in a jury finding last year against Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS Health Corp, as well as a judgement of more than $650 million last month.
The other case, brought by San Francisco against Walgreens, ended in the firm being found guilty by a court in August. The trial's second phase, in which a money judgement will be decided, is planned for next month.
Walgreens and CVS both reached mid-trial settlements with Florida, each for $683 million and $484 million. A week before a scheduled trial, Walmart and CVS settled with West Virginia for $82.5 million and $65 million, respectively. Walgreens will go on trial in West Virginia next June.
