Walgreens agrees to pay US up to $350m for illegally filling opioid prescriptions

Walgreens Boots Alliance has agreed to pay $350 million in a federal settlement over its alleged role in dispensing millions of prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, following a decade-long pattern of systematically pressured pharmacists to fill dangerous prescriptions without proper validation. The company must pay $300 million plus an additional $50 million if it is sold or merged before 2032. A spokesperson denied liability, stating the settlement aligns with favorable terms for resolving federal and state lawsuits while focusing on a turnaround strategy.