New Mexico has settled with Walgreens for $500 million over the pharmacy’s role in giving highly addictive prescription opioid painkillers without due attention to prescriptions raising concerns for drug abuse and addiction.
Opioids include legal painkillers such as OxyContin, and various forms of the drug fentanyl.
Fentanyl, a highly addictive and potent synthetic opioid, was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat acute pain.
It is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is also extremely addictive. Just a two-milligram dose can prove fatal.
New Mexico’s settlement was signed in March and a confidentiality provision on the settlement was lifted Friday, according to state officials….