Walgreens to pay up to $350 million in opioid settlement

(NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million as part of a settlement over their role in the opioid crisis.

The pharmacy was accused of illegally filling millions of prescriptions in the last decade for opioids and other controlled substances.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved to dismiss its complaint in light of Friday's settlement.

According to details of the settlement released Monday, Walgreens must pay the government at least $300 million, and another $50 million if the company is sold, merged, or transferred before 2032.

Amid slumping store visits and shrinking market share, Walgreens announced it was closing 1,200 stores around the country last October.

The DOJ filed a similar lawsuit against rival chain CVS in December.

Over the past eight years, drugmakers, wholesalers and pharmacies have agreed to more than $50 billion worth of settlements with governments, with most of the money required to be used to fight the opioid crisis.