By Staff Reporter | iSkyCreations – News & Media (ISC News & Media)
Published Feb 7th 2024
In a significant legal settlement, two Charlottesville, Virginia pharmacies — a Kroger Pharmacy and a Harris Teeter Pharmacy — have agreed to pay the United States $1.3 million to resolve civil claims of violating the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The agreement comes in the wake of allegations that the pharmacies filled over 160 illegal prescriptions, including those for opioids, contributing to the nationwide opioid crisis that has claimed a record number of American lives in recent years.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh underscored the gravity of the opioid epidemic and the critical role pharmacies play in combating this public health crisis. “This epidemic remains ongoing, and we know that many individuals struggling with addiction are obtaining opioids and other addictive drugs from pharmacies who choose to look the other way,” Kavanaugh stated. He affirmed his office’s commitment, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies, to holding pharmacies and healthcare providers accountable for illegal practices that fuel addiction and endanger lives.