ORLANDO, Fla. – Federal drug agents have searched six Walgreen stores and a distribution center in Florida as part an ongoing investigation into prescription pain pill abuse.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration is looking at whether Walgreens pharmacies allowed a suspiciously large number of pain pill sales. Agents believe that could indicate the pills are being diverted to drug dealers and addicts.
Michael Polzin, a spokesman for Walgreens Co., the country's largest drugstore chain, said the Deerfield, Ill., company is cooperating with the DEA.
The report says the stores involved are located in southern and Central Florida, and the distribution center is in Jupiter, Fla.
In February, DEA agents raided two CVS pharmacies in Sanford and one Lakeland facility of Cardinal Health, Inc., a major drug distributor as part of a crackdown on prescription pill abuse.