Florida sues drug store chains for allegedly aiding opioid crisis

The state of Florida is suing the two largest drugstore chains in the U.S., Walgreens and CVS for allegedly helping to facilitate the nationwide opioid epidemic.

“We will continue to pursue those companies that played a role in creating the opioid crisis,” said state Attorney General Pam Bondi in the announcement of the suit. “Thousands of Floridians have suffered as a result of the actions of the defendants.”

On Friday, Bondi filed a complaint that alleges that the two chains oversold opioids and did not adequately police illegal sales of the drugs. 

{mosads}It also takes aim at Insys Therapeutics, Inc., which the filing alleges gave doctors kickbacks for prescribng its opioid product, Subsys. 

The three companies were added to a larger suit against a variety of opioid providers. 

A CVS spokesman told the New York Daily News that the lawsuit was “without merit.”

“Over the past several years, CVS has taken numerous actions to strengthen our existing safeguards to help address the nation’s opioid epidemic,” the spokesman, Mike DeAngelis said.

Walgreens told The Hill that it does not comment on pending lawsuits.

The Hill has reached out to CVS for comment. 

-Updated 2:17 p.m.