CVS Pharmacy has to pay Baltimore, Maryland $45 million for the contribution they played to the increasing opioid epidemic sweeping across the nation during the years 2006 and 2014.
Baltimore, Maryland is only 9% of the state’s population, but has taken up over 44% of its opioid related deaths in the state. Companies such as: CVS Pharmacy, Allergan and Cardinal Health were main distributors of prescription opioid drugs. These drugs were then misused and caused many problems within the communities because of that. This resulted in the city of Baltimore suing said companies for their help in prolonging the crisis that the city is still trying to solve to this day. These problems have caused massive ripples in the many different communities inhabiting Baltimore, and one thing to blame are the companies that distributed said drugs. Currently out of all the lawsuits issued, Baltimore has won 3 of them, including one against CVS Pharmacy. From CVS and Allergan they were able to gain $45 million from the lawsuit for damages to the city and communities. Cardinal Health was a little different though. Through the lawsuit with Cardinal Health, the city was able to gain $152 million in expenses and damages, but that is hopefully not all they will be able to gain.
There are more lawsuits pending with companies such as: Walgreens, Johnson & Johnson, Cencora, Teva and McKesson. If these companies are found responsible for the help in the epidemic as well, they will also owe Baltimore more money in damages. “These companies targeted Baltimore and decided profits were more important than the health and safety of the people of this City. We are fully committed to ensuring that these companies pay their fair share to repair the damage they’ve done to our neighborhoods and families,” Mayor Brandon Scott responded to the cause of the lawsuits against the companies. All of this money being given will be going to funding the creation of the Baltimore Restitution Fund, to help those communities affected by this horrible crisis sweeping the nation.
This money will help many people. It will be able to: help rebuild low income/massive drug parts of towns, reimburse people who this has affected financially and allow for better treatment with those fighting the horrible addiction.
Sources:
https://health.baltimorecity.gov/substance-use/opioid-restitution-fund
