U.S. trial begins on role of pharmacies in opioid epidemic

In the U.S. on October 4 begins the first trial on the role of four major U.S. pharmacy chains in the deadly opioid epidemic, according to Reuters.

Executives of such large companies as Walgreens, CVS Health, Walmart and Giant Eagle are summoned to court.

Ohio state representatives are trying to convince the jury that the companies have flooded their communities with addictive painkillers pills.

Recall that more than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed in the United States by state and local governments that want to hold companies responsible for an epidemic of opioid abuse that, according to the U.S. government, led to nearly 500,000 overdose deaths from 1999 to 2019.