New research adds to growing evidence that semaglutide—the active ingredient in medications like Ozempic and Wegovy—may help people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD). A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that semaglutide reduced alcohol cravings, lowered the average number of drinks on drinking days, and decreased the frequency of heavy drinking episodes.
For the study, researchers recruited 48 adults with AUD who were not actively seeking treatment. Female participants had a history of consuming more than seven drinks per week, including at least two heavy drinking episodes—defined as four or more drinks in one sitting. Male participants reported drinking more than 14 drinks per week, with at least two instances of consuming five or more drinks at one time.
Participants received either semaglutide or a placebo injection over a nine-week period while researchers tracked their drinking patterns. In addition to reducing alcohol consumption, a small subgroup of participants who smoked cigarettes also significantly cut back on their daily cigarette intake.
Despite the widespread impact of alcohol addiction, treatment options remain limited. Since the FDA’s approval of the first AUD medication in 1951, only two additional medications have been approved to treat alcohol addiction.
“The rate of one new approval every 20 to 25 years is inadequate and is in stark contrast with the pace of FDA approvals for diabetes medications, which now outnumber AUD medication approvals 20-fold,” researchers wrote.
This latest study builds on prior research suggesting that weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro may also help treat opioid use disorder, highlighting the potential for these medications to address substance addiction beyond their original purpose.