GLP-1 drugs, which are used to treat Type 2 diabetes and other conditions and for weight loss, include Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound.
Here are five things to know:
- The study evaluated data from 136 health systems, covering more than 100 million patients. The study included more than 500,000 patients with a history of opioid use disorder and more than 800,000 patients with alcohol use disorder.
- Patients with opioid use disorder who were taking a GLP-1 drug had a 40% lower incidence of overdose than patients not taking the drugs. Patients with alcohol use disorder taking GLP-1 drugs had a 50% lower rate of alcohol intoxication than those not prescribed the drugs.
- Previous research has indicated GLP-1 drugs could help treat addiction. A clinical trial conducted at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill found semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug, could treat alcohol use disorder.
- A study published in JAMA Network Open in September found GLP-1 drugs may significantly reduce the risk of opioid use disorder.
- Fares Qeadan, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics at Loyola University Chicago and the lead author of the study published in Addiction, told ABC News on Oct. 17 that GLP-1 drugs could offer a way to treat addiction without the stigma associated with existing medications for substance use disorders.
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