from an opioid manufacturer, the more likely they are to prescribe opioids. >> reporter: as you can see here, the doctors who get paid the most money that. >> prescribe the most opioids. >> we don't know which way that relationship goes. is it that the payments motived the physician to prescribe more, or did the high prescriber attract the money? >> if there is the possibility that paying doctors leads to increases in inappropriate prescribing of these drugs, that's something that we have to take seriously. >> reporter: we showed opioid researcher our findings. >> it shows that the drug companies are really getting what they pay for. in effect, they're almost bribing doctors to prescribe their drugs aggressively. >> reporter: but pain specialist dr. steven stanos says pharmaceutical companies are paying doctors to educate other doctor. >> i hope they would choose physician bhas have an understanding of job, and can speak objectively about that. >> reporter: it works to make sure patients' needs are met