New research suggests that a popular group of medications used for diabetes and weight loss may also help treat alcohol and drug addiction.
These drugs are called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and early findings show they might offer a new way to support people dealing with substance use disorders.
The study, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, was led by Dr. Lorenzo Leggio from the National Institutes of Health.
He and his team believe that these drugs could reduce the urge to use alcohol, opioids, nicotine, and possibly other addictive substances. While the evidence is still developing, both animal and human studies offer promising results.
Substance use disorders are major global health problems. They can cause people to lose control over their behavior, take dangerous risks, and struggle in their social lives.
The damage goes beyond the individual, affecting families, communities, and even entire healthcare systems. Alcohol alone is responsible for a large number of health problems and accidents worldwide.
Despite the scale of this crisis, less than one in four people with alcohol or drug addiction received treatment in 2023. Reasons include limited access to care, lack of resources, and the stigma often attached to addiction. Even for those who do seek help, current treatment options are often not enough.
That’s where GLP-1 drugs may come in. These medications were originally designed to help people with type 2 diabetes. More recently, they’ve gained attention for their ability to reduce appetite and support weight loss. But they also affect parts of the brain that regulate behavior, including addiction-related pathways.
GLP-1 molecules work in the brain by helping control hunger and satisfaction. This system also overlaps with the brain’s reward system, which is involved in both eating and addictive behaviors. Some scientists believe that the same brain circuits involved in overeating are also active in addiction.
In early research, GLP-1 drugs have shown the ability to reduce alcohol intake and cravings. In one study, semaglutide, a newer GLP-1 drug, helped people drink less and reduced their desire for alcohol. While an earlier drug called exenatide didn’t show major effects in all patients, it did help those who had both alcohol use disorder and obesity.
Animal studies are even more encouraging. In mice and rats, GLP-1 drugs reduced the use of heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone. They also made animals less likely to return to drug-seeking behavior—a key challenge in treating addiction.
There’s also potential for these medications to help people quit smoking. Early tests in rodents showed that GLP-1 drugs reduced the desire for nicotine. In humans, they may also help reduce daily cigarette use and avoid weight gain, which is a common problem after quitting smoking.
Still, more research is needed to fully understand how these drugs work in addiction and whether they can become part of routine treatment. Scientists are now looking into the biological details behind these effects and testing the drugs in larger clinical trials.
Dr. Leggio says the potential is exciting. Addiction is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, and better treatments are urgently needed. If these diabetes drugs prove to be effective, they could give new hope to millions of people living with addiction.
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The study is published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
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