According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration numbers examined by the Washington Post, nearly 100,000 people died in the United States from opioid addiction or related issues from 2006 to 2012. The number of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills distributed in the time period: 76 billion.
Six companies distributed 75% of those pills and among them was CVS Health Corp.’s CVS Pharmacy, which distributed 5.9 billion, or 7.7% of the pills. Nos. 1 and 2 were McKesson Corp. and Walgreens, at 18.4% and 16.5% of distributed pills, respectively.
States and municipalities have filed suits against the makers of opioid pills, as well as distributors. For its part, CVS plans to “aggressively” defend itself in suits, maintaining that it has put in place policies that prohibit distribution of oxycodone and fentanyl, while pointing out that doctors have the primary responsibility for appropriately prescribing the pills.
No matter the suits’ outcomes, all parts of the opioid supply chain should make sure their policies reflect the best interests of patients and the public good.