THE NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST JAIL WORK RELEASE PROGRAM IN NASSAU COUNTY; N.Y., IS 1 OF APPROXIMATELY 30 DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS NATIONWIDE INVOLVED IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CURRENT NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST, NALTREXONE. NARCOTIC ANTAGONISTS PROVIDE A CHEMICAL SHIELD AGAINST THE CYCLE OF OPIATE TAKING, AND ARE NONNARCOTIC AND NONADDICTIVE. THEY HAVE NO STREET VALUE WHICH MIGHT ENGENDER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, ARE LONG-ACTING, AND REQUIRE NO SPECIAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS TO SAFEGUARD THEM. INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO BE OPIATE FREE BUT WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKDOWNS. PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING, MONITORING OF DRUG USE AND VITAL SIGNS, AND COMMUNITY FOLLOWUP SERVICES. BENEFICIARIES ARE THE OFFENDERS, THE CORRECTIONAL AND DRUG TREATMENT SYSTEMS, AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH A RESEARCH DESIGN WAS ONLY PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED IN NASSAU COUNTY, CLIENT-RELATED INDICES SHOW REDUCED PROGRAM DRUG USE, THE SAME DEMERIT RATES FOR BOTH NALTREXONE-TREATED, WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS AND WORK RELEASE FACILITY RESIDENTS, AND INCREASED TRUST TOWARDS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FROM THE CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATION. THE CHIEF RESTRAINTS IN USING AN INVESTIGATIONAL DRUG ON REPLICABILITY IS ITS LACK OF AVAILABILITY. FURTHER CONSIDERATION MUST ALSO BE GIVEN TO FUNDING SOURCES, PREPARTING THE COMMUNITY AND FUTURE EMPLOYERS FOR THE PROGRAM, AND ENSURING POSTRELEASE TRANSFERABILITY OF SKILLS OBTAINED IN WORK RELEASE. DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND THE INITIAL IMPETUS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE OUTLINED, AS ARE THE DOSAGE REGIMEN, THE COLLECTION OF URINE SAMPLES, THE HEALTH CHECKS, AND THE USE OF SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING. CHARTS AND TABLES DESCRIBE THE PROGRAM AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (NIDA) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE. (AOP)