A growing body of research suggests medications commonly used to treat diabetes and aid weight loss could also help people struggling with substance use disorder.
A recent study involving more than 600,000 U.S. veterans found that those with Type 2 diabetes who began GLP-1 therapy had a 14% lower risk of developing new addictions to substances such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and cocaine.
Researchers found the preventive effect was especially strong for opioid use disorder, with a 25% reduction in new cases among veterans who did not previously have a history of addiction.
The study also found potential benefits for patients already living with addiction. Among those individuals, starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist was associated with a 50% reduction in death, a 39% decrease in drug overdoses and a 25% reduction in suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Researchers caution the study has several limitations, including the fact that participants were predominantly older, male and white.
However, the findings add to a growing number of studies suggesting GLP-1 medications could help reduce substance-related harm.
In one study, researchers analyzed data from more than 227,000 people diagnosed with alcohol use disorder between 2006 and 2021. They found that patients taking GLP-1 agonists were significantly less likely to be hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal or overdose. Specifically, semaglutide was associated with a 36% lower risk, while liraglutide was linked to a 28% lower risk.
Another large-scale study of more than 503,000 people with opioid use disorder reported similar results. Researchers found those prescribed GLP-1 or GIP medications, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, experienced a 40% lower risk of opioid overdose compared to those who were not taking the medications.
