A recent study has found that GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, commonly prescribed for obesity and diabetes, may have the potential to treat alcohol and drug use disorders. The study showed significant reductions in opioid overdose and alcohol intoxication among individuals taking these medications.
The study, which looked at 1.3 million health records, found that people with opioid use disorder who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs had a 40% lower chance of an opioid overdose. Additionally, individuals with alcohol use disorder who took these medications had a 50% lower risk of alcohol intoxication.
These findings are considered promising, as GLP-1 medications interact with the brain's mesolimbic system, which is associated with appetite suppression and addictive behaviors. However, experts caution that more research is needed to determine the full extent of the medications' effectiveness in curbing addictive behaviors.
Lorenzo Leggio, a clinical researcher at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, noted that while the study results are encouraging, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trials are necessary to further evaluate the medications' efficacy in treating substance use disorders.
The study authors emphasized that this is the first large-scale study to explore the potential use of weight loss drugs in reducing addiction risks. Matt Field, a professor of psychology at the University of Sheffield, added that the outcomes of the study are promising but may not necessarily translate to complete abstinence or reduction in substance use for individuals with addiction.
Alcohol use disorder affects nearly 29 million people in the United States, with 17 million being male and 12 million female. Opioid use disorder affects over 9 million adults in the U.S., with over 80,000 opioid-involved overdose deaths reported in 2022.
While current medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are available to treat alcohol use disorder, and methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are used for opioid use disorder, experts suggest that there is a need to expand the use of these approved effective treatments.
In conclusion, the study on GLP-1 drugs and their potential in treating alcohol and drug use disorders offers promising results, but further research is needed to fully understand the medications' effectiveness and potential impact on curbing addictive behaviors.