OxyContin maker pleads guilty in criminal case

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma on Tuesday pleaded guilty to three criminal charges related to its role in the opioid epidemic.

Purdue officials admitted the company impeded the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's efforts to combat the crisis. For instance, the company did not maintain an effective program to keep prescriptions from hitting the black market, despite telling the DEA they had an initiative in place.

The guilty pleas are part of a criminal and civil settlement announced last month that includes penalties and forfeitures.

Read more from The Associated Press.