AG Camacho Announces $3 Billion Nationwide Settlement With Walmart Over Inappropriate Opioid Epidemic Allegations

November 22, 2022 – Tamuning, Guam- Attorney General Leevin Taitano Camacho announces that Guam will be part of a $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart to resolve allegations that the company contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores. The settlement will also require significant improvements in how Walmart’s pharmacies handle opioids.

“This settlement means more resources for Guam to support drug prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs,” Attorney General Camacho said. “That means paying for the treatment, recovery, and support services that families need, and changing business practices to make sure this never happens again. This nationwide settlement will provide critical resources to those struggling with this crisis and requires Walmart to implement enhanced compliance measures to prevent inappropriate dispensing in the future.”

The settlement will include:
● $3.1 billion to be divided by states, local governments, and tribes that sign on, which must be used to provide treatment and recovery services to people struggling with opioid use disorder.
● Broad, court-ordered requirements, including robust oversight to prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspicious prescriptions.

The settlement is now being sent to states and territories for review and approval. The parties are optimistic that the settlement will gain support of the required 43 states by the end of 2022, allowing local governments to join the deal during the first quarter of 2023. Further details about how the money will be distributed will be forthcoming. Last month, states confirmed that promising negotiations were also underway with Walgreens and CVS. The parties continue their efforts to achieve those agreements.

Attorneys General from North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Texas have served as the lead negotiators on this deal.

This is the sixth opioid related settlement secured by the Consumer Protection Division. These efforts will bring over $13 million dollars to Guam. The funding, under the terms of the settlement agreement, will go towards opioid treatment, recovery, and abatement. All settlement funds must be deposited into Guam’s opioid trust fund account and the Opioid Recovery Advisory Council will decide how the funds will be dispersed.