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Director NIMH Addictlon Research Center, PHSH, Lexlngton, Kentucky

Proposed Transfer of Dr. H. F. Fraser to a Defense Project

Pursuant to your telephone Instructlons, the followlng Informailon which has a bearino on the proposed transfer of Dr. H. F. Fraser to a Defcase Project Is subaitted.

Dr. Fraser currently is deeply involved In another Defense Project ehich Is being carrled on under a cootractual arroncement with the Offics of Naval Ressarch. The contrect number is Nonr lBl-53. It comes under Capt. F. H. Culmby, Heed, Physlology Branch, Uifice of Naval Research. Ths project has been cerried onsince l952. Thz contract was renewed on August 8, l955 and provides sufftclznt funde to operete the project to july l, 1956.

The object of the prolect ts to develop a synthetic substitute for codelne. Such a substitute is badly needed sincs the current source of codelms is oolum or morohine derlved from opium. Seventyfive per cent of tho natlon's milltary ond civtlian needs for narcotic drugs are for codeine rather then for morphine. Since no adaquate synthetlc substituie lone -ahlch eouid be as saie from the polnt cf view of toxlclty snd eddiefion ilabiliiy) is avellable, this means rhat we must continue to stockpile oplun. In the svent of war the oplum producing arees-could be lost within a vary short period of time, lzaving the country entireiy dependent on stockplies of opiun és a dource of codeine. lf a synthetle substltute coulo be found which is es safs as codeine, adequate manufacturing facliltles for synthetic chemlcals could provide all needs.

To date the prolect has uncovered one drug, the dextro-3-methylether of Dromoran, which may be efiective in tho suppression of cough. This drug ls currestly vader cllaiesl lrial. There is. however, no subaience avaliabia which would replace codeine for rellei of milder types of paio. Currently in progress are studics of dextro-oropoxyphane, a syathetlc compound in the methadone serics. studies cf the aloba-prodine enateg In the hexemetbyleneininc strie: and studiss on compounds In both the rorphinaa aad maperisine series In whleh thz ohanethyl creuo hos been substltoted for the rithyl group on nitrogen. All oi these compsunds have been submitted to the Drug Addictlon Conmittec of the National Rescarcs Council as all are thought to have sone potentiality as posslble susstliuies for codeine.

The testing of naw synthetlc analcssic drucs raquires anecial tralning of the Ciflccr oa tye job for & pofiod of hzo years.

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Uifector Natlonal Institute of Mentai Health

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Caly Dr. Fraser and myself have the requlred tralning and experlence. Neither Dr. Wikler or Dr. Esslg do work in this fleld, so nelther could adequately replace Dr. Fraser. Since we are currentiy operating two experimentel wards, the entire burden would falt on myzelf, =ith a grest Incrsase in danger to our experlmental patlents since i can not handle two wards and my administratlve dutles in à proper fashion.

Transfer of Dr. Fraser ot thls time would, therefore, mean considerable slowdown In the analgesic testing procrem here. I do not think ve would be able to fill our contractual abllgatlons to the Office of Naval Research adequately. Consequentiy, both the Cffice of Naval Ressarch and the Drug Addiction Commlttee of the Natlonal Research Council should be consulted before the F transfer is efiected.

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Harris:lsbell, M.D.

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