(6) Trends would suggest that, while the aggre-
gate rise in opioid overdose deaths among veterans 
parallel those seen in the general population, the in-
crease occurred mainly because of a rise in deaths 
from nonprescribed sources such as heroin, fentanyl, 
other powerful synthetic opioids, or multiple opioids 
in concurrent use. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that further veterans overdose prevention efforts and 
research should extend beyond patients actively receiving 
opioid prescriptions. 
SEC. 3. REVIEW OF DEATHS OF VETERANS RELATING TO 
OPIOID USE. 
(a) REVIEW.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall complete a review of the deaths of all 
covered veterans who died from opioid overdoses during 
the five-year period preceding the date of the enactment 
for this Act. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The review under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) The total number of covered veterans who 
died from opioid overdoses during the five-year pe-
riod preceding the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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(2) A summary of such veterans that includes 
the age, sex, and race, and ethnicity of each such 
veteran. 
(3) A comprehensive list of the medications pre-
scribed to, and found in the bodies of, such veterans 
at the time of death, specifically listing any medica-
tions that carry a black box warning, are off-label, 
or are psychotropic. 
(4) A summary of medical diagnoses by physi-
cians of the Department of Veterans Affairs that led 
to any prescribing of the medications referred to in 
paragraph (3). 
(5) The number of instances in which such a 
veteran was concurrently on multiple medications 
prescribed by physicians of the Department. 
(6) A summary of— 
(A) the average period that elapsed be-
tween the last prescription opioid receipt and 
the date of the death of such a veteran; and 
(B) the cause of death for each such vet-
eran. 
(7) The percentage of such veterans with com-
bat experience or trauma (including military sexual 
trauma, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic 
stress). 
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(8) Identification of medical facilities of the De-
partment with high prescription and drug abuse 
treatment rates for patients being treated at those 
facilities. 
(9) A description of policies of the Department 
governing the prescribing of medications referred to 
in paragraph (3). 
(10) A description of efforts by the Secretary to 
electronically track, collect, and properly dispose of 
prescription opioids that are either unused, past the 
prescription date, or not in the possession of the 
properly prescribed patient. 
(11) A description of any patterns apparent to 
the Secretary based on the review. 
(12) Recommendations for further action that 
would improve the safety and well-being of veterans 
and reduce opioid overdose rates for veterans, espe-
cially concerning research regarding such veterans 
who had not filed for a opioid prescription in the 
three months before death by overdose. 
(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Not later than 45 days 
after the completion of the review under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall— 
(1) submit to Congress a report on the results 
of the review; 
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(2) make such report publicly available; and 
(3) provide to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
a briefing on such review. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘black box warning’’ means a 
warning displayed within a box in the prescribing in-
formation for drugs that have special problems, par-
ticularly ones that may lead to death or serious in-
jury. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means any vet-
eran who received hospital care or medical services 
furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
during the five-year period preceding the death of 
the veteran. 
Æ 
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