MORE THAN THE CARTELS? –
March 15, 2023 – The lawsuit, filed in Cleveland federal court, said Rite Aid repeatedly filled prescriptions from May 2014 to June 2019 that were medically unnecessary, for off-label use or not issued in the usual course of professional practice. Rite Aid pharmacists were accused of ignoring obvious signs of misuse, including in prescriptions for “trinities,” a combination of opioids, benzodiazepine and muscle relaxants preferred by drug abusers for their increased euphoric effect.
Authorities also said Rite Aid’s Government Affairs Department was aware that its pharmacists were ignoring obvious red flags and that it directed employees in another department to delete internal notes about suspicious activities such as “cash only pill mill???” “writing excessive dose[s] for oxycodone” and bluntly “DO NOT FILL CONTROLS,” according to the complaint.
Rite Aid has more than 2,200 locations across 17 states, including California, Ohio, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Its retail pharmacy revenue is expected to be about $17.5 billion for the 2023 fiscal year, according to its latest third-quarter results reports. The company declined to comment on the allegations, citing the litigation.
