Walmart will pay $3.1 billion for allegedly contributing to opioid crisis

Walmart has agreed to pay $3.1 billion to settle lawsuits from a number of U.S. states alleging the company contributed to the opioid epidemic, the company announced Tuesday.

In a statement, the retail giant stated it had agreed to the payment to resolve “all opioid lawsuits and potential lawsuits by state, local, and tribal governments.” Walmart added that it will “provide significant aid to communities across the country in the fight towards the opioid crisis, with aid reaching state and local governments faster than any other nationwide opioid settlement to date.”

The lawsuits had initially been introduced by a large tranche of states, together with New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, and more, CNN reported. The coalition of attorneys general in these states claimed the actions of Walmart’s pharmacies had been a direct factor in the nationwide opioid crisis.

The lawsuits stated Walmart, amongst other things, did not correctly regulate its pharmaceutical standards and prescriptions, CNNadded. Walmart has denied these claims, saying in a statement that the company “disputes the allegations in these matters, and this settlement framework does not include any admission of liability.”

This isn’t the only legal action facing Walmart, as a federal lawsuit introduced by the U.S. Justice Department in 2020 alleged the company had purposefully understaffed its pharmacies to boost profits, The Wall Street Journalreported. Walmart has sought to have this case dismissed.

Beyond Walmart, rivals CVS and Walgreens recently agreed to a combined $10 billion settlement under comparable circumstances.