A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that Novo Nordisk's weight loss and diabetes drug semaglutide, found in medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, may have the potential to help people quit smoking. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and the National Institute on Drug Abuse analyzed data from nearly 223,000 individuals who started using semaglutide and other diabetes medications between late 2017 and early 2023. The study found that smokers with type 2 diabetes using semaglutide were less likely to require medical care related to tobacco use compared to those using other diabetes drugs.
While the study did not definitively prove that semaglutide users were more successful at quitting smoking, the researchers noted a significant reduction in medical encounters for tobacco use disorder among those using Ozempic. However, further clinical trials are needed to investigate whether Ozempic and Wegovy could be effective tools in helping people quit tobacco.
GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide have shown promise in curbing addictive behaviors, not only for smoking but also for other substances and behaviors like drinking, cannabis use, and gambling. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the producers of these drugs, are exploring the potential anti-addiction properties of GLP-1s, which mimic a gut hormone involved in regulating hunger and blood sugar.
With cigarette smoking causing approximately 480,000 deaths each year in the U.S., the potential for medications like Ozempic to aid in smoking cessation could have significant public health implications. While the full mechanism of how GLP-1 drugs induce weight loss and potentially help treat addiction is not fully understood, researchers speculate that by targeting areas of the brain involved in controlling food cravings, these drugs may also impact other desire pathways associated with addiction.
As more research is conducted in this area, the potential for GLP-1 drugs to be utilized in treating addiction and other conditions like heart disease, dementia, and sleep apnea continues to be explored by pharmaceutical companies.