GLP-1 agonist medications such as Ozempic have been game changers in the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Recently, a new study found evidence that Ozempic may be a promising medicine for individuals with alcohol use disorders. This investigation, one of the first clinical trials focused on a population with alcohol use disorders, expands other research exploring the impact of GLP-1 agonists on alcohol and tobacco use among individuals with obesity or diabetes who were being treated with these medications.

GLP-1 (also known as glucagon-like peptide 1) is a hormone that is produced by the digestive system and in parts of the brain after we eat. GLP-1 agonist medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy mimic this hormone’s effects, letting the body know that you’ve eaten enough. The powerful weight loss effects of these medicines have led individuals who take them to achieve a 15 percent reduction in their body weight, on average.

Addiction scientists took an interest in GLP-1 agonists after some people who were taking them for weight loss noted that in addition to suppressing their appetite, the medication also seemed to reduce their desire to drink alcohol and/or smoke. Though the reasons these........

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