They were sued for selling opioids to people with prescriptions the chain knew (not 'should have known' - knew) were fraudulent, and the damages that caused. To

They were sued for selling opioids to people with prescriptions the chain knew (not 'should have known' - knew) were fraudulent, and the damages that caused. To individuals and communities, for example. The DoJ said they violated two acts in doing so: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/united-states-files-complaint-alleging-rite-aid-dispensed-controlled-substances https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/united-states-files-com... Why did they do it? Because like everyone else involved: there were big profits to be made. Rite-Aid is the first pharmacy to file for bankrupcy but several drugmakers have already done so. https://www.npr.org/2023/10/16/1206256476/rite-aid-files-for-bankruptcy-amid-deluge-of-opioid-lawsuits https://www.npr.org/2023/10/16/1206256476/rite-aid-files-for... > The latest data from the centers for Disease Control and Prevention found more than 112,000 drug deaths in the latest 12-month period here in the U.S. It's the highest toll of fatal overdoses ever. The big culprit now is street fentanyl, the synthetic opioid produced by the Mexican drug cartels. But it's important to say the U.S. medical industry is still prescribing vastly more pain pills than other countries. Those medications are still killing a lot of Americans - nearly 17,000 fatal overdoses from prescription pills every year. In suing Rite Aid earlier this year, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement saying the Justice Department plans to hold companies accountable for the opioid epidemic that's killing Americans.