Research on GLP-1 Medications and Substance Use Disorder

1. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial*
   Hendershot et al., JAMA Psychiatry (2025)
   

   This is the landmark randomized controlled trial (the highest level of clinical evidence currently available). It demonstrated reductions in alcohol craving, drinks per drinking day, heavy drinking, and laboratory alcohol self-administration with semaglutide.

2. Associations of Semaglutide with Incidence and Recurrence of Alcohol Use Disorder in a Real-World Population*
   Wang W, Volkow ND, Xu R, et al., Nature Communications. 2024.

   A large real-world study including more than 680,000 patients demonstrating approximately a 50–56% lower risk of incident and recurrent alcohol use disorder among patients prescribed semaglutide.

3. Repurposing Semaglutide and Liraglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder*
   Lähteenvuo M, et al., AMA Psychiatry. 2025.

   Large nationwide population study demonstrating lower risks of hospitalization for alcohol use disorder and several other substance use disorders among patients treated with semaglutide or liraglutide.

4. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of substance use disorders among U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes*
   BMJ Cohort Study (Newest Evidence), BMJ. 2026.

   Large VA cohort study demonstrating lower risks across multiple substance use disorders among veterans prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists.

5. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)*
   Excellent NIH summary written for both clinicians and patients that explains the science behind GLP-1 medications and alcohol use disorder in an accessible way.

*GLP-1 therapy is a evidence-informed adjunctive treatment for carefully selected patients. It is still an emerging area of addiction medicine, and the evidence continues to evolve.