Walmart Settles Lawsuit Over Opioid Dispensing Practices

The Justice Department and Walmart confirmed the settlement of a lawsuit without disclosing the terms. Walmart has settled a U.S. government lawsuit accusing the retailer of contributing to a nationwide opioid epidemic by unlawfully dispensing prescriptions from its pharmacies. The U.S. Department of Justice and Walmart confirmed the settlement in separate statements on Friday, without revealing the terms. Walmart did not admit liability and stated in a regulatory filing that it settled for an 'immaterial' amount. The company's net income totaled $11.7 billion for the six months ending on July 31. The Justice Department declined to comment on the settlement terms, noting that the lawsuit was one of its most significant cases against a single company regarding the opioid epidemic. In an email, the Justice Department expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating it resolves allegations that Walmart's pharmacies failed to comply with obligations under the Controlled Substances Act in dispensing opioids and other controlled substances. The department emphasized its commitment to holding accountable those whose practices contributed to the opioid crisis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 905,000 people in the U.S. died from opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2025, with annual deaths beginning to decline after 2022. The complaint, filed in December 2020, accused Walmart of repeatedly violating the federal Controlled Substances Act since 2013 by failing to track and report suspicious opioid prescriptions. The department indicated that Walmart could face billions in civil penalties. In 2022, Walmart agreed to pay $3.1 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits from state and local governments regarding its pharmacies' roles in the opioid crisis. Other companies, including CVS and Walgreens, reached similar settlements. Walmart stated it is pleased to resolve this matter and will continue to support its pharmacists. A joint stipulation dismissing the case was filed on Thursday in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware. Walmart shares closed up 46 cents at $103.09. Other companies involved in opioid-related lawsuits include Purdue Pharma, which pleaded guilty to criminal charges in 2020 related to its painkiller OxyContin, and the drug wholesaler Cencora, formerly known as AmerisourceBergen. In March 2024, U.S. District Judge Colm Connolly narrowed the Walmart case, dismissing claims that Walmart failed to report suspicious prescriptions to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, while allowing the government to pursue claims that pharmacists dispensed prescriptions known to be invalid.