A new study published in Journal of Addiction looked at whether certain medications can help with substance-related outcomes in patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders.
“Our study examines the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs), like Ozempic, to reduce severe outcomes, specifically overdose and intoxication, in individuals with opioid and alcohol use disorders,” study author Fares Qeadan told us. “We aimed to see if these medications could provide an adjunctive therapy to help reduce the significant health risks associated with substance use.”
The research team’s primary theory was that GLP-1 RAs might reduce substance cravings and the likelihood of heavy use episodes by modulating reward pathways in the brain. They hypothesized that these effects could translate into a measurable reduction in overdose and intoxication rates among patients prescribed these medications.
“My research work is centered around substance use and addiction,” Qeadan told us. “The idea for this study was inspired by the broader hypothesis we have been working on that medications known to impact craving and reward pathways for conditions like obesity might also affect addictive behaviors associated with substance use disorders (SUDs). Given the limited options for treating SUDs and the growing use of GLP-1 RAs, it seemed a natural step to investigate these medications’ potential role in addiction treatment.”
The research team analyzed data from a large, real-world patient cohort, comparing outcomes for individuals with opioid and alcohol use disorders who were prescribed GLP-1 RAs to those who were not. This approach allowed them to observe whether GLP-1 RAs were associated with a reduction in overdose and intoxication rates.
“Our findings indicate that patients prescribed GLP-1 RAs had statistically significant reductions in overdose and intoxication rates compared to those not prescribed these medications,” Qeadan told us. “This suggests that GLP-1 RAs could have a protective effect in reducing severe outcomes among individuals with SUDs.”
These findings suggest that GLP-1 RAs might offer a new approach to managing opioid and alcohol use disorders. However, further research, including randomized controlled trials, is essential to confirm these results and explore the full potential of GLP-1 RAs for addiction treatment.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the strength of the association observed, particularly in the real-world patient population,” Qeadan told us. “While we hypothesized a potential benefit, the findings reinforce the broader applicability of GLP-1 RAs beyond their traditional use in metabolic conditions.”
This study reflects the importance of exploring new ways to address the public health crisis of substance use disorders. GLP-1 RAs could represent a promising addition to the SUD treatment landscape.
“Our team is committed to furthering this research with ongoing and future studies,” Qeadan told us.