An exclusive CNN investigation tied the amount of compensation pharmaceutical companies offer to physicians — for consulting, speaking and other services — to the opioid volume that each prescribes. It’s a disturbing report that raises questions about the potential for collusion between opioid manufacturers and doctors.

“I don’t know if the money is causing the prescribing or the prescribing led to the money, but in either case, it’s potentially a vicious cycle,” Harvard assistant professor of health policy and management Dr. Michael Barnett told CNN reporters. “It’s cementing the idea for these physicians that prescribing this many opioids is creating value.”

Are opioid manufacturers’ provider incentives negatively affecting the quality of US healthcare, degrading physician ethics and contributing to rising addiction rates?

Get the full CNN story here.