Ozempic and Mounjaro could be used to treat drug and alcohol addiction in the future. | Sebastien Bozon/Getty Images
A groundbreaking study released on October 17, 2024, suggests that popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro may have benefits beyond their intended purposes. The large-scale analysis shows these drugs might reduce the risk of drug and alcohol addiction, but experts caution that more research is necessary before making any definitive conclusions.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, is the first of its kind to look at the effects of diabetes and weight-loss medications on addiction at such a large scale. Researchers analyzed over 1.3 million health records from the United States to understand if there is any link between the use of these drugs and a reduction in alcohol or opioid addiction. They discovered significant decreases in the rates of alcohol intoxication and opioid overdose among people taking these medications.
The analysis found that for people with alcohol addiction, the rate of alcohol intoxication was 50 percent lower in those prescribed these drugs compared to those who weren’t. Similarly, for those with opioid addiction, the overdose rate was 40 percent lower in those taking drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro compared to non-users.
These findings are particularly exciting, as they open the door to new treatment possibilities for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. The drugs examined in the study include popular diabetes treatments such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, as well as Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro.
However, while the results are encouraging, experts are urging caution before drawing conclusions. The study’s authors, from Loyola University Chicago, point out that while the data is promising, it is still unclear how these drugs might work in addiction treatment. They emphasize the need for additional research, particularly clinical trials, to confirm these findings and understand how the drugs might function in this new context.
Until now, most research into using these types of drugs – known as GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists – for treating substance use disorders has focused on animal studies or small clinical trials. This latest study, which analyzed health records, is one of the largest to explore the potential benefits in humans, but experts warn that it may still have limitations.
One such expert, Professor Matt Field of the University of Sheffield, noted that while the study shows a reduction in extreme cases of drug and alcohol intoxication, like overdoses, it does not necessarily mean these medications will help individuals reduce their substance use overall. “The outcomes here are very different from those typically used in addiction treatment studies,” he said. He explained that while the drugs might prevent severe intoxication, there’s no clear evidence yet that they help individuals stop using alcohol or drugs altogether.
He pointed out that a key question remains: even if these drugs reduce the likelihood of an overdose, will they help people cut back on how often or how much they drink or use drugs? According to Field, this was not addressed in the study, leaving some uncertainty about the full impact these medications may have on addiction treatment.
Interestingly, earlier this year, Novo Nordisk, the company that produces Ozempic, announced that it would begin researching how semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, affects alcohol consumption. This could provide additional data on whether the drug could eventually be used to treat alcohol addiction in the future.
The study, which trawled through electronic health records, found 8,103 people with a history of opioid use disorder who had been prescribed medications for diabetes or obesity. It also looked at over 817,000 people with alcohol use disorder, 5,621 of whom had similar prescriptions. While these numbers provide a large sample, there are still many unanswered questions about how the medications may affect different groups of people and whether there are long-term benefits to using them in addiction treatment.
While this study is certainly promising and highlights the potential for new pathways in addiction treatment, it’s clear that much more research is needed before these drugs can be recommended for people with substance use disorders. The study’s authors caution against making any assumptions until further trials can be conducted, particularly prospective clinical trials that can examine whether these drugs actually help reduce substance use or help people achieve abstinence.
In the meantime, the idea of using weight-loss and diabetes medications to treat addiction remains an intriguing possibility. If further research supports these early findings, drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could revolutionize the way addiction is treated, offering new hope to individuals struggling with alcohol or opioid use. However, until more is known, doctors and patients should proceed carefully and continue to rely on established treatments for addiction.
This study represents an important step forward in understanding how medications designed for one purpose may have unintended benefits in other areas of health. While there is still a long way to go, the possibility that these drugs could be used to help people overcome addiction is an exciting development in the ongoing fight against substance use disorders.
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