Dr. George Nichopoulos
He may not have been the best doctor for a drug addict, but in prescribing more than 19,000 doses of narcotics, sedatives and stimulants for Elvis Presley over 32 months, Dr. George Nichopoulos was a ''good samaritan,'' his lawyer argued in Memphis last week. Standing trial on charges of overprescribing addictive drugs for Mr. Presley and 10 other patients, Dr. Nichopoulos was acquitted, largely because the defense was able to establish that there is no universally accepted treatment for prescription drug addicts. Dr. Nichopoulos said he prescribed the drugs in hope of becoming his patients' only source and then weaning them from their dependency. Drug experts said they wished the case would focus attention on the plight of physicians who feel duty bound to treat the growing number of such cases, but lack the necessary training.