OxyContin Maker To Plead Guilty To Federal Criminal Charges

Purdue Pharma has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges as part of an $8.3 billion settlement. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the US and violating anti-kickback laws. The settlement does not absolve Purdue executives, including the Sackler family, from criminal liability. Purdue admitted to lying about its program to prevent illegal use of its prescription medicines and paying doctors to increase opioid prescriptions. This case marks a significant federal effort to hold a drugmaker accountable for the opioid crisis, which has resulted in over 470,000 deaths in the US since 2000.

What is significant about the federal government's action against Purdue Pharma?

How many deaths in the US have been linked to the opioid epidemic since 2000?