Raleigh, NC (WECT) – The state of North Carolina will receive more than $1 billion in opioid funding from CVS and Walgreens as part of a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical industry’s role in the opioid crisis. Overall, CVS will pay $5 billion and Walgreens will pay him $5.7 billion.
“In addition to the financial settlement, CVS and Walgreens, along with formerly Walmart, have agreed to court-ordered injunctive relief requiring pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data regarding suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. This court-ordered injunctive relief will help ensure a crisis like this never happens again,” the office of Attorney General Josh Stein said in a press release.
The terms of the agreement will be reviewed by the states and each state must join by the end of the year. At that point, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS contracts will be sent to local governments for sign-on in the first quarter of 2023. Stein wrote in a press release that North Carolina intends to participate in the deal.
“This crisis is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” Stein said in a press release. “This is the worst drug epidemic in American history. Too many people have died and many more lives have been torn apart. has held the companies responsible for creating and contributing to this crisis.”
Most Walmart payments are paid in the first year, while CVS pays for 10+ years and Walgreens pays for 15+ years. Payments will begin later next year if enough governments sign it.
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