A new class of diabetes medications is showing a surprising side effect: a reduction in addictive behaviors, including cravings for alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco. Researchers are now investigating whether these drugs, known as GLP-1s (Glucagon Like Peptide 1), could offer a novel approach to treating a wide range of addictions, a growing public health concern.
The initial observations came from clinicians like Ziyad Al-Aly, who noticed patients taking GLP-1 medications reported losing interest in substances beyond food. “They told me, ‘you recognize, I started these GLP-1 medications and, suddenly, I lost the taste for alcohol,’” he recalled. “I don’t drink anymore, I don’t smoke anymore.”
These anecdotal reports gained traction, with even public figures like Oprah Winfrey sharing similar experiences. Winfrey told People magazine that she stopped drinking alcohol altogether after starting GLP-1 treatment, having previously been able to consume seventeen tequila shots in one sitting.
Recent studies are now backing up these observations. Research has linked medications like Ozempic and Wegovy to decreased cravings for alcohol, as well as reduced risks of substance employ disorders related to alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco. Even animal studies display that monkeys voluntarily consume less alcohol when administered GLP-1 medications.
A study analyzing the medical records of over 606,000 veterans with type 2 diabetes found that those taking GLP-1s had a 14% lower risk of developing a substance use disorder compared to those taking a different class of diabetes medications. This translates to roughly six fewer cases of substance use disorder per 1,000 patients. The benefits were even more pronounced for individuals already struggling with addiction, with a 39% reduction in overdoses, a 31% reduction in emergency room visits related to addiction, and a 25% reduction in suicidal thoughts or attempts. The risk of addiction-related death was halved.
Researchers believe GLP-1 medications could potentially lead to a universal addiction treatment, rather than the current approach of substance-specific therapies like nicotine patches or methadone for opioid dependence. “It’s not just nicotine, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, or opioids,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. “It’s all of these substances.”
GLP-1 receptor agonists function by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone naturally produced by the body during digestion. This hormone stimulates insulin production, lowers blood sugar, and suppresses appetite in the brain. Initially approved in 2005 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes, the medications gained attention for their significant weight loss effects. A newer formulation, semaglutide, requires less frequent injections and received FDA approval for weight loss in 2021.
As of late 2025, approximately 12% of U.S. Adults reported taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss or conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a survey by KFF Health Tracking.
The growing number of people using these medications has led to increased reports of reduced addictive behaviors, prompting further scientific investigation. Initial studies focused on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis, but research is now expanding to include a wider range of substances.
Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study, noted that the medications appear to reduce overall appetite, which may be a key factor in their effect on addiction. “What we’re observing in the data…is that, for some people, [the medications are] very helpful in reducing overall craving, which is really interesting,” she said.
Experts suggest the research into GLP-1s and addiction could provide valuable insights into the biology of addiction in the brain, potentially leading to a new generation of medications designed to address the root causes of addictive behaviors. Studies suggest GLP-1 receptors are abundant in brain regions associated with reward processing, satiety, and impulse control.
Lembke also pointed out that the reduction in constant cravings may contribute to improvements in mood and even alleviate symptoms of depression, as reported by some patients. She is currently conducting a study on a non-veteran population that echoes the findings of Al-Aly’s team, suggesting the medication could treat multiple types of addiction. Researchers are also exploring their use in treating behavioral addictions like gambling and sex addiction.
While promising, experts caution that GLP-1s are not a universal solution. Lembke’s clinical experience shows the medications are highly effective for some individuals but have no effect on others. But, she believes the recent wave of studies is a positive step forward.
Millions of people struggle with addiction, and treatment options are limited and slow to develop. Many addiction treatments can lead to weight gain, discouraging some individuals from seeking help. GLP-1 medications do not create dependence and, for many, offer the added benefit of weight loss.
Researchers emphasize that it is too early to recommend GLP-1s as a first-line treatment for addiction, as many unknowns remain. Concerns exist about whether addictive behaviors will return when the medication is stopped and the potential for relapse. “Do the addictions or cravings come back with a vengeance?” Al-Aly questioned. “That’s an important question because it could negate the benefits or lead to more complex problems.”
Despite these uncertainties, Al-Aly plans to consider a patient’s risk of substance use when choosing a diabetes treatment. “Let’s say he tells me, ‘Doctor, I’ve been trying to quit smoking for ten years and I can’t do it,’” he said. “I know that by prescribing GLP-1 medications, I’m killing two birds with one stone.”
Lembke urges caution, given potential side effects and other adverse consequences that need further study. However, she believes that for individuals who have tried more conventional methods without success, trying a GLP-1 agonist for addiction treatment may be worthwhile. She is currently using them to treat various addictive disorders, primarily related to alcohol, and food. “It’s great to have a new tool,” she said. “The fact that we haven’t had a new tool in a long time makes this proposition very exciting.”
