New Mexico pursues opioid case against Walgreens

The state of New Mexico urged a judge to hold Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc responsible for fueling the opioid crisis in the state.

Dan Alberstone, a lawyer for New Mexico, told Judge Francis Matthew in the 1st Judicial Circuit of New Mexico in Santa Fe, that the opioid crisis existing in New Mexico was a foreseeable consequence of Walgreens' conduct."

Alberstone accused the company of failing to "maintain effective controls" against the diversion of opioids onto the black market, saying it dispensed suspicious prescriptions without adequate due diligence or documentation.

Steven Derringer, the lawyer arguing for Walgreens, insisted that the opioid crisis was caused by excessive prescriptions and smaller, "mom and pop" pharmacies with lax controls. He added that the state had not offered any evidence that Walgreens dispensed any prescriptions without "legitimate medical purpose."

When the non-jury trial began six weeks ago, it also included claims against Walmart Inc and Kroger Co, but those companies settled with the state last month.