Albertson’s faces $900 million penalty for failing to stop opioid misuse in WA

Albertsons pharmacies will pay $900 million to the state of Washington after a King County judge ruled Thursday that the company failed to prevent the misuse of opioids, contributing to an addiction crisis that has killed thousands in the state.

According to the state attorney general’s office, the settlement concludes a multi-year case in which the AG’s office proved that Albertsons repeatedly failed to adequately resolve “red flags of diversion,” warning signs that indicate a drug may be misused or diverted toward the illicit drug market.

The office said between 2006 and 2022, Albertsons dispensed more than 641 million opioid pills into Washington, the majority of which had red flags that weren’t appropriately investigated and resolved.

“This is a victory for the people of Washington. When giant corporations put profits above safety, they will be held accountable,” Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement Thursday. “This verdict can’t undo the devastating harms of the opioid crisis, but it will provide desperately needed resources to support treatment and prevent future crises.”

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In a statement Thursday, a spokesperson for Albertsons Companies said the company was “disappointed” in the ruling and “respectfully disagrees” with the conclusions of the lawsuit.

“We are reviewing the decision closely and will evaluate all available options, including appeal. We are proud of our pharmacists and their dedication to the patients and communities they serve, and we will continue to support our customers and communities across Washington through responsible pharmacy operations,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement Thursday.

According to data from the Washington State Department of Health, in the past three years, 7,400 Washingtonians have died from opioid overdoses.

The Attorney General’s Office said the pharmacy overlooked red flags in 6.5 million prescriptions and failed to track many prescriptions, leading to significant theft.

In one case, a Safeway employee stole more than 70,000 opioid pills from a pharmacy in North Bend over the course of two years before finally being caught; other thefts included 12,000 pills from a Leavenworth pharmacy and 19,000 pills from an Olympia location, the office says.

The attorney general’s office said the money will go towards treatment and prevention resources to combat addiction across the state.