Weight-loss and diabetes medications like Ozempic and Wegovy may help individuals combat alcoholism and opioid addiction, according to a new study. The research, published on October 17, 2024, in the journal Addiction, indicates that those using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) have a 50% lower rate of alcohol intoxication compared to individuals with addiction disorders who are not using these medications. Additionally, GLP-1 users showed a 40% lower rate of opioid overdose.
The study, led by Fares Qeadan, an associate professor of biostatistics at Loyola University in Chicago, concluded that GLP-1 drugs show a significant protective effect against alcohol intoxication among those with alcohol use disorder. They also demonstrated a protective effect against opioid overdose among those with opioid use disorder.
GLP-1 medications aid weight loss by mimicking a hormone that responds to food intake, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce hunger, and slow digestion. Researchers noted that the brain regions targeted by GLP-1 overlap with those involved in the development and persistence of addictive behaviors.
The study analyzed data from over 500,000 individuals with a history of opioid addiction and 817,000 individuals with a history of alcoholism, using records from 136 U.S. health systems from January 2014 to September 2022. Researchers tracked the use of GLP-1 drugs alongside incidents of intoxication or overdose, suggesting that these drugs could offer a promising new approach for treating substance use disorders.
