Research and development of naltrexone: a new narcotic antagonist.

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.