Walgreens, state attorney general agree to $683 million opioid settlement.

Four weeks into a jury trial, Walgreens and the state of Florida have agreed to a $683 million settlement that will resolve all claims related to the dispensing of prescription opioid drugs by the company’s Florida pharmacies.

Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the conclusion of its legal battle with Walgreens last week in Tallahassee. Walgreens acknowledged no wrongdoing in the settlement, which provides $620 million to the state for opioid treatment and prevention over 18 years and a one-time payout of attorney fees amounting to $63 million.

Walgreens was the 12th and final defendant in Florida’s opioid litigation efforts. Moody has secured a total of more than $3 billion in opioid settlement funds, she said.

““Before taking office, I vowed to seek accountability for the opioid crisis, and with this final action, I can now say we have successfully accomplished our mission,” the state attorney general said in a statement emailed to the Florida Record. “The more than $3 billion secured through years of determined legal work will go to communities devastated by opioids. Our hope is this money, paid out over the next two decades, will save lives and help Florida families and communities heal.”

Florida is the first state to conclude its litigation against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. The health crisis continues to cause the death of 21 Floridians every day, Moody said.

“At issue in this trial and in this litigation was the opioid crisis and Walgreens' role in helping fuel the epidemic of addiction that still plagues this state today," she said.

The company said in a news release that it has taken several steps to prevent opioid abuse and better treat its effects. Walgreens’ actions include more patient education, using technology to help pharmacists ensure that prescriptions they fill are used for legitimate medical purposes and ending the self-distribution of opioids and all pharmaceuticals to Walgreens’ stores.

Last week’s announcement comes in the wake of an $870 million opioid settlement the state secured with CVS Health Corp., CVS Pharmacy Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. and Allergan PLC in March. Florida also entered into a national settlement worth $1.6 billion with McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corp. and Johnson & Johnson Inc.