# GLP‑1 Agonists: A New Hope for Substance Use Disorders? 

As clinicians and researchers continue to study these drugs, they are uncovering their potential versatility for treating a wide range of conditions.

July 5, 2024 • Commentary 

By [Jeffrey A. Singer](https://www.cato.org/people/jeffrey-singer) 

This article appeared in *[Real Clear Health](https://www.realclearhealth.com/)* on July 5, 2024. 

For several years, doctors have actively prescribed glucagon-like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1) agonists, such as semaglutides (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (e.g., Mounjaro, Zepbound), to treat type 2 diabetes. These drugs increase insulin levels to lower blood sugar and slow sugar release into the bloodstream. Additionally, they [promote weight loss](https:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573908), which reduces the risk of [cardiovascular issues, stroke](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563), and [liver](https:/www.aidsmap.com/news/mar-2024/semaglutide-improves-fatty-liver-disease-and-inflammation-people-hiv) inflammation related to HIV and “fatty liver” disease. There’s also evidence that GLP‑1 agonists might directly improve [kidney](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8995488/) damage. As clinicians and researchers continue to study these drugs, they are uncovering their potential versatility for treating a wide range of conditions.

GLP‑1 agonists cause weight loss *indirectly* by slowing the movement of food through the stomach and intestines and *directly* by acting on GLP‑1 receptors in the brain to reduce appetite and cravings and induce a feeling of satiety. Now, there is encouraging evidence that their effect on craving and satiety may help to treat substance use disorders.

A study last year found that people using GLP-1s to lose weight also [consumed less alcohol](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48267-2). National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow was a researcher in a study this year suggesting GLP‑1 agonists may prevent [relapse](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48780-6?fromPaywallRec=false#Sec7) of alcohol use disorder. The evidence suggests these drugs reduce the [desire](https:/recursiveadaptation.com/p/27-reddit-users-describe-how-ozempic) to drink.

As clinicians and researchers continue to study these drugs, they are uncovering their potential versatility for treating a wide range of conditions.

Dr. Volkow also co-authored a study this year showing GLP-1s reduce the incidence and relapse of [cannabis use disorder](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02498-5).

[Anecdotal](https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/bio-top-lilly-researcher-says-company-looking-closely-glp-1-cessation-impact-its-hard-prove) evidence is fueling research into whether GLP-1s can help people quit smoking. Some studies show GLP-1s may work better when [combined](https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S2211-1247(23)00477-1.pdf) with other smoking cessation drugs. Studies thus far are [inconclusive](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00008-7/fulltext#:~:text=To%20date,%20a%20pilot%20randomised,decreased%20post-cessation%20weight%20gain.), but [clinical trials](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05530577) are in progress.

In February 2024, researchers from [Pennsylvania State University](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/pennstatehealthnews.org/2019/12/researchers-receive-nearly-5-million-to-curb-opioid-cravings/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6MGVmODowOTE0MWU1NDZhNDRiM2U1YzE5YWU0ZDZkYTc3ZDJiYWY5YTc3YmYwN2YxNzdmNDc2MGFhMTg4OWY1OWFkMjMzOmg6VDpO) reported that a small study showed GLP‑1 agonists [reduced cravings](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.statnews.com/2024/02/17/opioid-cravings-glp1-weight-loss-liraglutide-penn-state/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6MWI1YTo3OGEwNjQ4NmFmZWRiNjZjZjE1MzZlMTBlYTFjMTc1YmFmODkzZjQ5N2I2NGFkM2NkMGZjMTVmODMzZWQ2ZDFmOmg6VDpO) in people with opioid use disorder (OUD) by 40 percent over three weeks. While some animal studies have yielded [disappointing](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.eneuro.org/content/6/2/ENEURO.0443-18.2019.abstract___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6ZDVhYTo4YzFhZjFmM2NjYjlkMGM0YWM2MWNiMjcwM2I1ZGM2ZjAyMDhmMDAyYTU5M2FmMGE1MWNlODNjNTUwMDQxYTRlOmg6VDpO) results, other [animal](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0361923022002210?via%3Dihub___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6ZGVhNjoyNTkwNzllODg3YmI2ODA2ZDRmMjc2NmNjZTk3NzY5OTlmOTc0OTllNDNjMWQ2NGM3OTdiYmE0MjljYmM5OTcxOmg6VDpO) [studies](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6969180/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6MmViOTpiOWY1ZDhmZDFlNTYzNGNjMDk1OGJlNzE0ZDllMWYyNWEzOWQ4ZjU0MDRmNThlNThiNGZiN2UwY2ZiMDdmMTFmOmg6VDpO) show [promise](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/18597jed331___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6M2NiYTpjNjgxZjVkNmQ2MTE3MGU3YTM2MzgxZWUyZjhjN2RmMmQ0MGIzODhlYTBiNjQ0ZmJjZTM0MzAyYzg3YjExYjdmOmg6VDpO).

It’s easy to get excited about the potential impact of GLP-1s on treating substance use disorder, whether used alone or in combination with other drugs or therapeutic modalities. First, these drugs are widely prescribed by primary care and other clinicians and are available in community pharmacies. In contrast to Canada, Australia, and the U.K., where [primary care clinicians provide methadone treatment](https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/expand-access-methadone-treatment) for people with OUD, the U.S. federal government requires OUD patients to visit federally approved Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) for their daily dose of methadone. If GLP-1s effectively reduce opioid cravings, patients could obtain them from a clinician’s office, avoiding the stigma and dehumanization imposed by the current system. Even if GLP-1s only work with other medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), they might reduce patients’ dose requirements and reliance on MOUD.

Second, many addiction specialists [oppose](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/the-surprising-failures-of-12-steps/284616/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6YmQ2YTplZTgzYzk1OGYyZDU2NmMxZmYxY2ZmZDBkMTRlZTg4YTM4MzI1MGI3YWIxNWMyOWM5ZGQ0YjY2OTE2NjBlODBhOmg6VDpO) abstinence-only treatment for substance use disorder. They argue that patients may view themselves as hopeless failures if they “fall off the wagon” and resume heavy substance use. [Reports](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.npr.org/2014/03/23/291405829/with-sobering-science-doctor-debunks-12-step-recovery___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6ZmM3YTo1MDAyMWNjMzAzNTgzMmI1ZDNlMDA3OWIyZWUzMDkzZjhlOTJiZWI0OGYxY2VlMzAxZTJhNjRjYjQ3MTBmZGEwOmg6VDpO) show that 12-step abstinence programs have only a 5 to 10 percent success rate. Some addiction researchers note that most people eventually [outgrow](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/filtermag.org/outgrow-addiction/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6YTEyMjoyNDFjOTllYTdhMGY3MzUwMmRiNDIwNjliNjk0ZDNjZTFjNGFlM2ZiNDAyZDAyNWRjMmFlNmY4MTM5YTg0NDRmOmg6VDpO) their addictions without treatment and [argue](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/add.16409___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6MDJkNDo5ZDg4ZDM1OTA4YzFmMDIyMmVlYzFkYzc2MzZmZTMyMWUyOTQwYjI2NmZlMDc2MmY3NDM4ODUxYjdlY2U3YTZiOmg6VDpO) that treatment should focus on [harm reduction](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836519/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6Mzg3YTowY2JjZjExYzM1ZWQ2NWFmZjA2OTE1NTQxOGRiOTNiNDIwMWFkZmFjZDc0NGUyZmU1ZDIwNDBjZjM2MzQ0MjY5Omg6VDpO) and [moderation](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/peele.net/lib/everything.html___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6MDYwNzpmNjdiZDQxNDk3Yzg2OWI2MGZlMDM0Njg0YjRlY2Y3ODczOTY2MDUwMjBlZjMzNGIzYTY3MDIxYzBhZGI4YTBhOmg6VDpO) [management](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1556035X.2012.705657___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6YjJmMjozNWRlYmUxODFhZDg4MGRjOGU3ZWRjZGU4ZjA1ZjE1Mjk4NWMyODc0OTNlYmM1MDMxZThlMGVhOTc3NDE0MzZmOmg6VDpO). GLP-1s are compatible with this approach. They reduce cravings and increase satiety without generating abstinence.

Finally, if the evidence shows that GLP-1s are effective for treating substance use disorder, imagine how they could help people concerned about their substance use manage it privately and avoid stigmatization. Health care consumers already use telehealth to purchase GLP-1s through retailers employing licensed practitioners in their states. It’s easy to envision people using telehealth in the privacy of their homes to access GLP-1s to moderate or quit using a substance. This could prevent many people from progressing to more severe forms of substance use disorder and their associated harms.

It’s too soon to tell if GLP‑1 agonists will become a new tool for treating substance use disorders. Researchers have only recently begun to explore this issue in depth. A new organization, the [Center for Addiction Science, Policy, and Research](https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https:/caspr.org/___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmY4YWIwODBkY2I3MjE0MWVkNjZhZTg5ODdiOGQwYjAzOjY6YTI4YjowMDM3ZWE3ZDg2MmUxMDBmM2VkMjRjZGJkNmY4NDVmOGM5MDE4YjBjN2FkMjBmZDY1YmRmMGEzOGU2MTY1MTY1Omg6VDpO), tracks and aggregates the evidence on its [Substack](https:/recursiveadaptation.com) site. Let’s hope the evidence fulfills the drug’s promise.

##### About the Author 

[![jeff-singer-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-05/jeff-singer-cropped.jpg?itok=G_0nEnx7)](/people/jeffrey-singer) 

##### [Jeffrey A. Singer](/people/jeffrey-singer)

Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

[ 

](https://x.com/dr4liberty) [ 

](mailto:jsinger@cato.org)