Weight-loss and diabetes medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, may offer a new avenue for treating alcoholism and opioid addiction, according to a recent study. These drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1), were associated with significantly lower rates of alcohol intoxication and opioid overdose among patients with substance use disorders.

The study, published on Oct. 17 in the journal Addiction, found that people taking GLP-1 medications had a 50% lower rate of drunkenness compared to individuals with alcohol addiction who were not on the drugs. Additionally, the study revealed a 40% lower rate of opioid overdose among those taking GLP-1 drugs and battling opioid addiction.

"GLP-1 drugs exhibited a strong protective association with alcohol intoxication among those with alcohol use disorder," noted the research team, led by Fares Qeadan, an associate professor of biostatistics at Loyola University in Chicago. The study also showed a "strong protective association with opioid overdose among individuals with opioid use disorder."

GLP-1 drugs promote weight loss by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and reduces hunger, which helps slow digestion. Researchers believe the brain regions targeted by GLP-1 drugs overlap with those responsible for addictive behaviors, providing a potential explanation for the drugs' impact on addiction.

The study analyzed data from over 500,000 people with a history of opioid addiction and 817,000 people with a history of alcoholism. Researchers reviewed health records from 136 U.S. health systems spanning January 2014 to September 2022. They tracked the use of GLP-1 drugs and monitored cases of intoxication or overdose.

"This study may introduce a promising new treatment for substance use disorders," the researchers concluded, offering hope for an innovative approach to tackling addiction alongside existing therapies.

This emerging connection between GLP-1 medications and addiction treatment opens the door for further research, potentially revolutionizing the way substance use disorders are managed in the future.