Beyond Weight Loss: Could GLP-1 Medications Help Treat Substance Use Disorder?
Imagine a man with type 2 diabetes who starts taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to control his blood sugar. He’s also a two-pack-a-day smoker. After using his GLP-1 medication for some time, he loses his taste for cigarettes. Despite many failed attempts to quit before, it’s only when he’s on GLP-1 that he no longer craves cigarettes.
This situation isn’t fictional. There are growing reports of people taking weight-loss medication who find it easier to control their addictions, whether it’s smoking, drinking alcohol, overeating, or even opioid use.
These emerging stories in clinical settings and on social media are attracting increased attention from medical researchers. While GLP-1 agonists are currently used to treat diabetes and obesity, could they also be effective for addressing substance use disorder (SUD)? We explore what fuels cravings and how GLP-1s help decrease them. Additionally, we review ongoing research investigating the potential of GLP-1 medications in treating various types of addiction.
Quieting the “Noise” Feeding Cravings
Many people struggling with obesity or being overweight report being overwhelmed by “food noise.” It’s that persistent, internal chatter that keeps them thinking about food constantly, making it hard to avoid overeating or obsessing over their next meal. However, some patients who take weight-loss medication say that it quiets the noise and reduces or eliminates their food cravings.
What’s more interesting is that the lack of cravings isn’t just limited to food. Many of these individuals also notice that they become less preoccupied with their other “vices,” such as smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling, or other compulsive behaviors.
Craving reduction is a key function of GLP-1 agonists, which imitate the GLP-1 hormone already present in our bodies. This hormone is found not only in the gut but also in the brain. There, GLP-1 binds to receptors to enhance control over dopamine production, a hormone and neurotransmitter that affects cravings and reward behavior. Since dopamine is involved in addiction and GLP-1 can reduce dopamine release, researchers see the potential for these drugs to lessen various cravings, making unhealthy substances and behaviors less rewarding.
Studies involving animal subjects have demonstrated that GLP-1 reduces cravings for various substances. For example, green vervet monkeys voluntarily consume alcohol, as humans do. In one study, green vervet monkeys given semaglutide, a common GLP-1 medication, drank less alcohol without experiencing nausea or changes in water intake. A 2025 study showed that rodents on GLP-1 self-administered cocaine at lower levels. Another study indicates that rats are less likely to crave nicotine when treated with liraglutide, another GLP-1 drug.
New Possibilities for Substance Abuse and Dependencies in Humans
Can drugs designed to control blood sugar and reduce appetite also help people with SUDs or harmful reward behaviors? Addiction disorders are hard to treat. The drugs currently available aren’t effective in handling multiple SUDs, and they’re often underused. Can GLP-1s provide a viable alternative for SUD treatment?
Researchers at Loyola University Chicago studied the potential of GLP-1 agonists to treat substance abuse in humans. They analyzed healthcare data from 600,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs database. The researchers reviewed three years of records of people who took GLP-1 drugs and compared them with those who didn’t, adjusting for demographics, medical histories, and other variables.
The researchers aimed to find out if GLP-1s lowered the rates of overdose, drug-related hospitalizations, and death among people with SUDs. In this group, there were 50% fewer SUD-related deaths compared to those not on GLP-1s. Additionally, there were 39% fewer overdoses, 26% fewer drug-related hospitalizations, and 25% fewer suicide attempts.
The study also analyzed data from individuals with no history of SUDs. The researchers aimed to determine if GLP-1s reduced their risk of developing addictions to alcohol, cocaine, opioids, cannabis, and nicotine. In this group, people taking GLP-1s had an 18% lower chance of developing alcohol use disorder, were 25% less likely to have opioid use disorder, and had a 20% lower risk of dependence on cocaine and nicotine.
According to the authors of this study, other research supports their findings. They also suggest that ongoing testing of GLP-1s’ effects on chemical dependency could result in annual declines in death, overdoses, hospitalizations, and SUD rates. Additionally, it is noteworthy that no other group of drugs has been shown to potentially affect multiple types of SUDs and addictions.
Medically Guided Weight Loss in West Chester
Although GLP-1s are not yet approved to treat SUDs or other forms of addiction, Everglow Medical Spa in West Chester offers these medications to individuals seeking help with weight loss and weight management. If your efforts to drop those extra pounds have fallen short, or you can’t seem to quiet that “food noise” in your head, we’re here to help.
Our qualified professionals can collaborate with you to identify the root causes of your weight-loss challenges. After reviewing your medical history and weight-loss goals, we can suggest a comprehensive treatment plan that may include GLP-1 medication.
If you’re seeking a medically-approved method to control your food cravings, contact us today to get started! Join other Cincinnati-area patients who have discovered ways to lose weight and improve their overall health. At our West Chester location, we also offer Tightsculpting and other skin-tightening treatments to enhance skin firmness and support your entire weight-loss journey.