How can GLP-1 medications treat alcohol and substance use?
Although drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are known to curb food cravings and regulate hunger signals, experts now believe that some forms of obesity share biological and neurological characteristics with other addictions. “Previous research in both animals and humans suggests that these treatments may help reduce alcohol and other substance use,” commented on the review’s lead investigator, Lorenzo Leggio, MD, Ph.D. “Some small clinical trials have also shown encouraging results.”
In terms of alcohol abuse, one study found that a low dose of semaglutide reduced an individual’s drinking days. Opioid relapse rates have been reduced, and the desire to smoke has also been curbed by experiments in which GLP-1 drugs were prescribed. “This research is very important because alcohol and drug addiction are leading causes of disease and death, but there are still only a few effective treatment options,” Leggio added. “Finding new and better treatments is critical to helping people live healthier lives.”
If future studies can confirm these encouraging early signs, more people could be treated rather than falling through the cracks, and this is vital as it is estimated that fewer than one in four people receive treatment for ASD due to barriers such as clinical availability and the stigma around seeking help. With current treatments for addiction falling short, GLP-1 therapies, if approved, could soon spread to modulate a range of addictive behaviors by reducing our negative cravings.
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