Drugstore Chains Close Thousands of Stores, Leaving Pharmacy Deserts and Health Risks

Drugstore chains like Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens are closing thousands of stores due to competition, debt, legal issues, and organized retail crime.

Closures have left gaps in access to medicines and essentials, posing health risks.

Sales of prescription drugs, the core business, have declined due to lower reimbursement rates.

Non-pharmacy sales face growing competition from Amazon, Walmart, and Dollar General.

Independent pharmacies have been disproportionately impacted, leaving voids especially in lower-income areas.