GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a 75% reduction in the odds of any substance use disorder among adults with Type 2 diabetes or obesity compared with non-user participants, according to a study published in Frontiers on March 9.
Researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso and Flinders University in Australia conducted a retrospective nested case-control study using data from the All of Us Research Program. The analysis included 142,349 adults with Type 2 diabetes or obesity between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 24, 2025.
Cases with new diagnoses of alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, nicotine use disorder or cocaine use disorder were matched 1:1 with controls without documented substance use disorders. Researchers evaluated exposure to multiple GLP-1 receptor agonists — liraglutide, semaglutide, exenatide and dulaglutide — at least 90 days before diagnosis and used conditional logistic regression to assess associations.
Here are four things to know:
- Alcohol use disorder odds were 74% lower among GLP-1 receptor agonist users. The association corresponded to an odds ratio of 0.26.
- Cocaine use disorder odds were 75% lower among GLP-1 receptor agonist users. Researchers found an odds ratio of 0.25.
- Opioid use disorder odds were 69% lower among GLP-1 receptor agonist users. The association corresponded to an odds ratio of 0.31.
- Nicotine use disorder odds were 68% lower among GLP-1 receptor agonist users. Researchers found an odds ratio of 0.32.
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