Walmart Inc. has agreed to pay $215 million to resolve claims its pharmacies fueled an epidemic of opioid addiction in Florida, the state’s attorney general announced on Thursday.
As part of the deal, Walmart has also agreed to dispense 672,000 treatment kits with the anti-overdose drug naloxone to first responders in the state.
“I’m grateful for Walmart stepping up and agreeing to partner with the state to provide law enforcement and first responders with much-needed naloxone,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement. “This will greatly help in our continuing mission to end the opioid crisis and save lives.”
The state has now secured a total of $3.2 billion through legal action to help fight the opioid crisis, according to Moody’s office. That includes recent settlements of $683 million with Walgreens Boots Alliance, $484 million with CVS Health Corp. and a combined $394 million with three drugmakers….