Justice Department suing Walgreens over millions of opioid prescriptions
The Justice Department is suing Walgreens, claiming that since 2012, pharmacists have filled millions of prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose or were not valid. The federal government accuses Walgreens pharmacists of violating the Controlled Substances Act, as well as the False Claims Act.
The head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division alleged the pharmacy giant contributed to the deadly opioid epidemic in the United States. Brian Boynton, who is with the Justice Department, said in a statement that the lawsuit seeks to “hold Walgreens accountable for the many years that it failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs.”
Boynton said there were clear red flags that prescriptions were likely illegal and unlawful.
The Justice Department statement says that four whistleblowers, who previously worked for Walgreens, came forward. The Drug Enforcement Agency added that “Walgreens and its pharmacists have an obligation to ensure that every prescription they fill is legitimate and issued responsibly. Walgreens placed the public in danger by disregarding their responsibility.”
Walgreens is owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance. It posted a statement on the company website saying, “We will not stand by and allow the government to put our pharmacists in a no-win situation, trying to comply with rules that simply do not exist.”
The company said it stands by its pharmacists, who live in the communities they serve and who fill legitimate prescriptions for FDA-approved medications.
Walgreens has more than 8,000 pharmacies nationwide. It is now asking the court to clarify the responsibilities of pharmacies and pharmacists. It accuses the government of attempting to enforce arbitrary rules and not the law.
Kroger agrees to pay $110M in Kentucky opioid settlement
Kroger has agreed to pay $110 million to settle claims it helped fuel Kentucky’s opioid crisis by failing to properly monitor the distribution of painkillers in the state. The settlement, announced Thursday, Jan. 9, is part of Kentucky’s broader effort to hold businesses accountable for their role in the state’s opioid epidemic.
Kentucky’s Attorney General Russell Coleman said the grocery chain’s pharmacies in Kentucky dispensed nearly half a billion opioid doses over a 13-year period, accounting for 11% of all pills sold in the state between 2006 and 2019.
Coleman said its more than 100 doses for every man, woman and child living in the state.
He criticized Kroger, saying the company allowed the flow of opioids to continue without adequate safeguards in place.
In a statement, Coleman said Kroger “allowed the fire of addiction to spread across the commonwealth, leaving pain and leaving so much brokenness in its aftermath.”
The lawsuit alleges Kroger did not implement sufficient training for pharmacists to identify and prevent drug abuse when filling opioid prescriptions.
In response, Kroger said its pharmacies follow guidelines, and pointed to its role as the first major retail pharmacy to integrate state prescription drug monitoring programs directly into its pharmacy system.
“The company has long provided associates throughout the pharmacy with robust training, as well as tools to assist pharmacists in their professional judgement.”
Kroger spokesperson
The settlement is not Kroger’s first legal challenge related to the opioid crisis. In 2023, the company agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a multi-state lawsuit over its role in the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Under the terms of the Kentucky settlement, half of the $110 million will go to local organizations to support efforts to combat drug addiction, while the remaining funds will be directed to the state’s opioid drug commission.
Kentucky has been one of the states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic. In 2022, the state ranked seventh in the nation for overdose deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, in 2023, Kentucky saw a 10% decline in overdose deaths, thanks in part to increased investment in drug prevention programs and enforcement.
DOJ accuses CVS of filling unlawful prescriptions, fueling opioid crisis
The Department of Justice is suing the nation’s biggest pharmacy chain. In a complaint unsealed Wednesday, Dec. 18, the DOJ said CVS knowingly filled illegal prescriptions and tried to get reimbursement from federal health care programs for those illicit prescriptions since 2013.
CVS allegedly filled prescriptions written by prescribers it knew were running “pill mills.” This is when prescribers issue large quantities of drugs without any medical purpose.
Prosecutors said CVS broke the law because of its performance metrics, compensation incentives and staffing policies.
“CVS set staffing levels far too low for pharmacists to both meet their performance metrics and comply with their legal obligations,” the DOJ said.
The department also accused the pharmacy chain of fueling America’s opioid crisis through malpractice.
CVS denied the allegations. It said the complaint offers a “false narrative” and it has been complying with the DOJ’s investigation for years.
If CVS is found liable, it could face civil penalties for each unlawful prescription filled and pay three times the damages as well as other penalties for each prescription reimbursed by federal health care programs.
Eli Lilly to test weight loss drug Zepbound to treat addiction
Eli Lilly, the maker of the popular weight loss injection Zepbound, is exploring other ways the drug can help people. In an interview with the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., this week, the company’s CEO, David Ricks, discussed the pharmaceutical giant’s plans for 2025.
“These medicines, we think, and we aim to prove, can be used for other things we don’t think about connected to weight,” Ricks said. “These are often called anti-hedonics, so they are reducing that desire cycle. So, next year you’ll see Lilly start large studies in alcohol abuse, in nicotine use, even in drug abuse.”
Zepbound is a GLP-1 drug. Those drugs work by mimicking hormones that make you feel satisfied after eating.
Researchers have known the mechanism in the brain that regulates food-seeking behaviors. They say it overlaps with the mechanism that regulates why some people develop addiction. However, Ricks said Eli Lilly’s upcoming study will be the first to test the use of these drugs specifically to treat addiction.
Zepbound started out under the name Mounjaro as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Eli Lilly later discovered patients could use Mounjaro’s active ingredient, tirzepatide, as an off-label prescription to encourage weight loss.
Shortly after, the Food and Drug Administration approved a version for weight loss purposes under the name Zepbound.
A new study by Loyola University released this week in the journal “Addiction,” found GLP-1 drugs show promise for treating drug and alcohol addiction.
Researchers found people addicted to alcohol who also had a prescription for a GLP-1 drug had a 50% lower rate of binging alcohol. They also discovered people with opioid use disorder had a 40% lower rate of overdose.
Annual drug overdose deaths decreased by greatest number in US history: CDC
Drug overdose deaths fell 17% between July 2023 and July 2024, according to a new report released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although drug overdose death numbers won’t be added up until the end of the year, the CDC said the drop would represent the largest decrease in overdose-related deaths over a one-year period in U.S. history.
Still, since 2021, more than 100,000 people have reportedly died from drug overdoses each year. 2022 set a record for overdose deaths with more than 108,000 people who died. Overdose deaths went down in 2023 and continued to fall throughout 2024.
The White House credited the drop in deaths to its efforts like making Naloxone, a medicine designed to reverse opioid overdoses, available over the counter and cracking down on fentanyl production.
Most overdose deaths reportedly involve opioids, including fentanyl, and there has been a decrease in deaths associated with these drugs. However, a CBS News investigation previously found a rise in deaths involving other drugs like meth and cocaine.
Drug overdose survivor advocates also warn the Biden administration against taking a “premature victory lap.” They noted the fall in overdose deaths is good news but also acknowledged that the numbers overall remain much too high, especially among minorities.
Mental health and addiction experts also argued that the U.S. government still needs to invest in more recovery, treatment and prevention programs.
‘Microdosing’ is the new trend in weight loss, but is it safe?
In recent years both weight loss injections and “microdosing” have become increasingly popular — and now, so is combining the two. Injections originally intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are proven to help people lose weight, but are often associated with side effects like gastrointestinal issues, which is why people have started microdosing these drugs.
Microdosing is when people take less than the prescribed or recommended amount to reap the drug’s benefits while avoiding its side effects. The concept has gained popularity in recent years with people microdosing psychedelics to help treat mental health disorders.
While there’s no official science behind it, people who have tried microdosing weight loss drugs say it’s been a game changer for them. However, health experts are issuing a warning over the new trend, as many people who jump on the bandwagon do so without talking to their doctor first.
Some doctors use microdosing to help those who have already reached their goal weight while using medication to keep that weight off. The practice has also been used to help people curb addictions to things like drugs and alcohol in addition to food as well. A study for the journal “Addiction” showed those on semaglutides were 40% to 50% less likely to binge drink or abuse opioids.
The trend has also heightened concerns that more people will turn to buying these drugs or compounded versions of their active ingredients online — something that’s already been an issue among people whose insurance doesn’t cover such treatments — which could lead to overdoses, infection or diseases because they’re not regulated.
Trump picks Bondi after Gaetz withdrawal; Hegseth responds to police report
President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time replacing his embattled attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz with Pam Bondi. We’ve got the details of her background. And a volcano in Iceland, once dormant for 800 years, has erupted again — for the seventh time this year. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Trump picks Bondi after Gaetz withdrawal; Hegseth responds to police report
Bondi served as Florida’s first female attorney general from 2011 to 2019. A year later, she was one of the lawyers who defended Trump during his first impeachment trial where he was ultimately acquitted by the Senate. She also served on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term.
Bondi and Trump’s connection came under scrutiny in 2013 when she did not join a lawsuit against Trump in connection to fraud allegations toward Trump University. At the time, Trump’s foundation made a $25,000 donation to a campaign group backing Bondi. Both denied any impropriety.
The 59-year-old Bondi currently leads the legal arm of the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute, which worked with the Trump campaign to help shape policy for his upcoming administration. If confirmed by the Senate, she would oversee the Department of Justice.
In announcing his pick on his platform Truth Social, Trump said, “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and making America safe again.”
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 21, 2024
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress shortly after Trump nominated him, released a statement earlier in the day saying his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition.” He also called Trump’s nomination of Bondi a “stellar selection.”
The former Florida congressman had been the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, including accusations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. He has denied any wrongdoing and the panel did not agree on Wednesday, Nov. 20, on whether to release its report.
Now attention is turning to Trump’s pick for defense secretary, war veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth. He met with Senators on Thursday as a newly released police report detailed allegations about an alleged sexual assault in 2017.
The report was released to media outlets in response to public records requests. No charges were filed in the case and Hegseth has said the encounter was consensual.
Hegseth spoke to reporters about the allegations Thursday.
“As far as the media is concerned, I’ll put it very simple: the matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared and that’s where I’m going to leave it,” he said.
Hegseth’s attorney said the allegations are false and Hegseth settled in 2020 only out of fear that he would lose his job at Fox News if the woman’s accusations became public.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey concedes to Republican rival Dave McCormick
The Associated Press called the race in favor of McCormick two days after the election.
It was one of the closest races in the state’s history — so close, it triggered an automatic recount under state law. Despite Casey conceding, the recount is still going on and results are expected Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice.
This is Pennsylvania’s fourth recount since 2004. None of the previous ones changed the outcome.
With McCormick’s victory, Republicans will control the U.S. Senate by a 53-47 margin, picking up four seats in the 2024 election.
Alabama carries out nation’s 3rd nitrogen gas execution
An Alabama prisoner became the third person in not just the state, but the U.S. to be executed with nitrogen gas Thursday night. Carey Grayson, 50, was one of four men convicted of murdering a female hitchhiker in 1994 when he was a teenager.
In a controversial move, Alabama began using nitrogen gas this year to carry out some executions. It entails the inmate inhaling pure nitrogen through a mask until he suffocates. Critics say it is inhumane and painful, but the state maintains the method is constitutional.
NFL issues security alert after homes of Mahomes, Kelce burglarized
The NFL has issued a warning for players after thieves burglarized the homes of two of its biggest stars in the league. Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes broken into within days of each other last month in the Kansas City metro area.
The NFL put out a security alert Thursday saying the criminals target players’ homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted.
NFL officials also recommended players avoid updating social media with check-ins or daily activities until the end of the day and refrain from posting expensive items on their accounts.
Volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for 7th time this year
In Iceland, a volcano has erupted for the seventh time just this year. This latest eruption happened late Wednesday night in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula.
Tourists had to be evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous tourist attraction. Iceland’s official tourism site said this most recent event, which created a nearly two-mile fissure, was significantly smaller than the last eruption in August which opened a 2.5-mile fissure.
Experts said the volcano had been dormant for 800 years before it became active again in 2021. Since then, a total of 10 eruptions have happened, including this latest one.
Ohtani, Judge named MLB’s most valuable players
Baseball superstars Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge both had award-winning seasons, and now, both have been named MVPs of their respective leagues.
For the second straight year, both MVPs have won unanimously!
2023 and 2024 are the only two times that both MVPs were unanimous selections. pic.twitter.com/tkmu3IHmem
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the Dodgers’ Ohtani, who became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, claimed his third MVP title. It’s his first in the National League. He joins Hall of Famer Frank Thomas as the only two players to get MVP honors in both leagues.
Judge received his second American League MVP in the last three years.
The two culminated their MVP seasons by meeting in last month’s World Series, where Ohtani and the Dodgers walked away with the championship.
Rise in bystanders using opioid overdose antidote to save lives
As the United States continues to struggle with the opioid epidemic, a new study found more people with little to no medical training are administering naloxone. The nasal spray, used to reverse an opioid overdose, is becoming more accessible for bystanders to use to help before medical help arrives on a scene.
The study, which was published Monday, Oct. 14, in the medical journal JAMA Open Network, found from June 2020 to June 2022, emergency medical services reported 744,078 patients received naloxone, better known as Narcan, across the U.S.
When breaking it down further, the researchers found that EMS-documented naloxone administration rates fell 6.1% in that time frame.
However, in the same time frame, the percentage of people who were administered naloxone by a layperson before EMS arrived went up 43.5%.
The CDC reported in 2023 it saw a 3% drop in fatal opioid overdoses in the U.S. It was the first decrease since 2018. Naloxone became available over the counter in September 2023 with an average retail price of about $45 for a two-dose carton.
The data indicates a decline in overdose deaths by approximately 10.6% from April 2023 to April 2024. In states with rapid data collection, the decline is even more pronounced.
Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, a street drug expert at the University of North Carolina, told NPR that some areas are seeing a 20% to 30% decrease in overdose deaths, which corresponds with similar steep declines in emergency room visits for overdoses.
The analysis suggests that the number of lives saved in one year could could be upwards of 20,000.
However, the crisis remains severe, with roughly 100,000 deaths still occurring annually, driven by dangerous street drug combinations like fentanyl, methamphetamines and xylazine.
Doctors and analysts who spoke to NPR were asked why there has been such a sudden shift from dramatic increases in overdose deaths year after year to a significant 10% drop.
They say it remains a mystery at this point but believe it could be attributed to several factors, including the availability and affordability of treatments for fentanyl addiction, and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on communities driving up drug use.
Meta platforms run ads promoting illicit drugs, violating own rules: Report
Meta’s platforms — Facebook, Instagram and Messenger — have been running ads for illicit drugs, including cocaine and prescription opioids like oxycodone and Percocet, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The tech giant has been raking in profits off the ads, which violate its own policies and U.S. law against promoting illegal drugs.
The WSJ reported in March that the social media company has been under federal investigation over the operation.
Watchdog group Tech Transparency Project (TTP) analyzed the ads and found Meta ran more than 450 of them in recent months, steering users to an online marketplace for illegal drugs. Some of the ads appeared as recently as July.
The ads encourage people to “place their orders,” alongside photos of prescription drug bottles, piles of pills and powders.
The group revisited one of their own investigations from December 2021 that found “Instagram allowed teen users as young as 13 to find potentially deadly drugs for sale in just two clicks.” According to the study, those same accounts don’t necessarily produce new content on its platforms but allow drug dealers to comment on older posts, encouraging people to visit a website called Best Drug Plug.
TTP said the site sells drugs, including opioids, ketamine, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, LSD and fentanyl.
Some parents who have lost their children to drug overdoses Meta blame Meta for their deaths.
During a congressional hearing in January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized directly to parents who said their children died as a direct result of Meta’s failure to protect children on social media platforms.
“I’m sorry for everything you all have gone through,” Zuckerberg said to the parents. “No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson for Meta said the company disabled many of the drug ads within 48 hours of the report going live.
The spokesperson also said Meta’s “systems are designed to proactively detect and enforce against violating content, and we reject hundreds of thousands of ads for violating our drug policies.”
“Our hearts go out to those suffering from the tragic consequences of this epidemic,” the spokesperson added. “It requires all of us to work together to stop it.”