Pharmacy

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio doctors and pharmacists cut back the number of prescription opioids they dispensed last year, a move that continues a large-scale drop in the number of painkillers doled out across the state.

Yesterday, the first bellwether trial in the opioid multidistrict litigation (MDL) came to a close with a jury verdict in favor the plaintiffs.

Last week, a federal jury in Ohio found that several major pharmacy chains operating in two of the state’s counties contributed to opioid overdose deaths there.

As it became increasingly evident that the opioid epidemic was sparked and fanned by “legal” drug dealers such as doctors, pain clinics and pharmacies, residents across Appalachia and the Rust Belt cried out for justice.

A case that was being watched closely ended in Cleveland last week with a federal jury finding three national pharmacy chains liable for helping to drive the opioid addiction and overdose crisis in the United States.

A federal jury says CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies didn’t do enough to stop the flow of opioid pills into two Ohio counties.

What You Need To Know: Lake and Trumbull counties blamed pharmacies operated by CVS, Walgreens and Walmart for not stopping the flood of pills that caused hundreds of overdose deaths and cost each of the two counties about $1 billion. This was the first time pharmacy companies had completed a trial to defend themselves in a drug crisis. Two other chains — Rite Aid and Giant Eagle — already have settled lawsuits with the two Ohio counties.

Cities and counties in the U.S. that want to hold pharmacies accountable for the opioid crisis are closely watching a federal trial that’s coming to a close