Walgreens — Local services in Ormond Beach

If I could give zero stars, I would.

My experience at Walgreens Store #3544 (790 Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL) was one of the most dehumanizing I’ve ever had, especially from a place that’s supposed to offer care and healing.

I’m recovering from a life-altering car accident and have undergone multiple surgeries. My doctor prescribed Oxycodone 30mg, with clear, documented instructions to allow an early refill due to my ongoing, severe pain.

The pharmacist, Debbie Spinson, told me I needed to have my doctor include specific language for an early fill. I did exactly that, not once, but multiple times. My doctor’s office even had another staff member stand behind them to verify that the prescriptions were being sent. Walgreens still claimed they hadn’t received anything, until it became clear they were simply lying to avoid filling it.

When I finally asked Debbie directly why she wouldn’t fill it, she said:

“I’m just not going to fill it.”

When I pleaded and asked, “Do you understand I could die?” she looked at me and said:

“You’ll go through withdrawal symptoms, but that’s not my problem.”

Let that sink in.

That statement alone should be grounds for immediate disciplinary action. Pharmacists are healthcare professionals, not gatekeepers of suffering. She had the authority and the written permission from my physician, and still chose to withhold care that could have saved me from unnecessary pain and medical danger.

To be clear, I was only asking for the medication a few days early. I explained that I had an upcoming appointment with my pain management doctor to review a new treatment plan, but right now, I needed her to help me, to honor her oath and just do her job. She could’ve called to confirm with my doctor herself, which is part of her job. But she refused.

This wasn’t about policy. This was a personal abuse of power, and it caused me suffering I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

And to those who may jump in with judgments about medication abuse: That’s not me.

I’m an educated, well-rounded, responsible woman who wishes every day that I didn’t have to take this medication at all. I wish I could get out of bed and function without it. But until you’ve been in pain so unbearable that it makes you question your will to live, don’t speak.

Imagine if it were your child, crushed in a horrific crash, with their limbs dislocated, their spine fractured, their life forever altered. Imagine they had to beg for relief, only to be ignored and humiliated by someone who took an oath to care.

There should be exceptions to rules, and there should be systems in place to protect patients who are not drug abusers. There should be vetting, discernment, and compassion. If a computer system shows that this is not a pattern of abuse, and a licensed physician has signed off, then the pharmacist should not have the right to override that care based on bias or personal belief.

And if this was truly against policy or law, as she claimed, then CVS would not have filled my prescription, but they did. The very same day, once my doctor moved the prescription to CVS, they filled it without hesitation. That alone proves this was never about policy. It was about power, and she abused it.

I’m filing formal complaints with the Florida Board of Pharmacy and Walgreens Corporate, and I hope this review prevents even one other patient from having to suffer like I did.

Walgreens, you need to seriously reconsider who you’re entrusting with people’s lives behind...

Pharmacist was great he handled the situation nicely. Meagan and Melissa behind the desk were extremely rude, especially Meagan. Zero customer service skills on both their parts. They are not happy with their jobs and it shows how they handle customers. I don't care if you can control the situation that the customer is going through or not but you still apologize for the inconvenience that customer has went through and then you also make the comment out of common courtesy something on the lines of I'm glad it all worked out for you, act like you care about what's going on with the customer no Megan literally turned around rolled her eyes at me had a nasty attitude and told me I should have called to figure out the situation. Who in the world that should have strong customer service skills especially that works at a front desk of a pharmacy representing your company says that rudely to someone. I drove all the way back to the Urgent Care the medic got on the phone with the pharmacist and they handled on the spot with no problems. Once I returned back to the pharmacy Melissa grabbed my prescription never once saying I'm sorry for the inconvenience I'm glad it worked out never said any of that to me while Meagan stood there staring me down at the counter with a nasty tone in her voice and said. I should have called then so then all Melissa could say was well I told you it denied, I told you it denied what was I supposed to do she said. The urgent care that I dealt with said that they've had numerous problems with the staff at this Walgreens numerous times. Those two girls acted completely uncompassionate about the situation. They don't have a clue what's going on in someone's world and should be more considerate and compassionate to people's feelings they are at a pharmacy for god sakes. As a courtesy to the customer they could have said let me call over to see if there's anything that they can send over different so that it's not an inconvenience for you but no got the attitude instead. I have completely no problem would dealing with this situation myself and getting the prescription figured out, what my problem is is how the staff spoke to me especially when there was five other customers behind me and Megan still talked to me like trash and front of customers when my whole problem was they acted inconsiderate about the situation not I'm sorry for the inconvenience I'm sorry you had this problem have a good day none of that came out of either one of...

Walked in. Spent 20 minutes, looking for someone to help me on the floor. Try to get ladies attention at the register, but she was too busy intentionally ignoring me. Finally Got her attention, asked her for an item My uncle buys regularly from Walgreens that he needed. She said they have never carried that item. I showed her a picture of the bottle of my uncle had purchased with the Walgreens label on it. And then showed her online where it’s a regularly stocked Walgreens item. She referred me to the pharmacy. Whereas talking to the pharmacy, I was informed that they no longer carry it. I didn’t ask them. Could they give me something similar to it. neither the three ladies gossiping behind the counter at the pharmacy, bothered to walk out and show me what it was. It just gave me some name that I looked for. When I’ve got to the area, there was five different items was similar names, but none of them were the same or had the same ingredients. Horrible experience. I’ve never had this issue at the Walgreens in new Smyrna. The store was completely empty. 6 o’clock in the evening on a weekday. Store is completely empty. I understand why. Horrible staff, miserable people. And when I finally found an item I was going to purchase. I walked right back up to the register where the same lady stood there and ignored me for over five minutes while I patiently waited for her to finally ring me up. I don’t know if she was playing on her phone, but she wasn’t moving. She wasn’t stopping anything. She was just hiding behind the display next to the register. Totally ignoring me. I even made a couple noises under my breath to make sure she knew I was there. She moved each time. I made the noise, but it wouldn’t make eye contact. I’m not a person that complains. I haven’t left five reviews in my life. But I went out of my way to leave a negative review for this Specific store. Horrible treatment. The worst interaction I have ever had in A store. And I’m 60 years old been around a...