Am J Psychiatry 1979; 136:782-786
Copyright © 1979 by American Psychiatric Association
Research and development of naltrexone: a new narcotic antagonist
DA Julius
The author reviews the history of federally supported research in the field
of narcotic antagonist therapy, focusing on social, political, and
governmental issues. He describes the criteria for establishing an optimum
narcotic antagonist, the legal guidelines for drug development, and the
currently available narcotic antagonists. Research supported by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse has indicated that naltrexone is the most
promising drug in this category. The author discusses the safety and clinic
use of naltrexone, the status of the NIDA naltrexone program, and plans for
future development of the drug.
