sometimes they ordose. sometimes it doesn't address the root causes of the depression. >> and it affects the brain as >> and that addiction which can be a spiral economically and end up homess. and so that tends to lead to suicide. so we need some good, hard data to see if there is a relationship between the two and get the v.a. looking for alternative methods of treating those pblems. >> so we review the past five years of the veterans life. we check for medications. we give congress a report and a plan of action. what do you want to come from this bill? >> well, i want to see if there's any evidence showi medical centers where you have high prescriptions for opioids also have high rates of suicide. if that's the case, certainly there must be a connection. now, that doesn't mean that in the meantime, while we're waiting for that report, that we don't do other things. things like looking the use of medical marijuana as an alternative. looking at other stress relievers like companion animals, for example. yo