GLP-1s Aid Weight Loss. Could They Help Cure Addictions, Too?

At this point, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are no secret. In fact, research from a recent RAND report shows that almost 12% of U.S. adults have taken them at least once — and 1 in 5 women between the ages of 50 and 64.

The drugs have been said to “revolutionize” weight loss, often reducing body weight in obese patients by between 15% and 25% in a single year.

But new studies — and patient experiences — suggest the medications may have another important use.

Could GLP-1s help cure addiction?

One of the main ways GLP-1s function to aid weight loss is by reducing appetite. Patients who take the drugs often talk about how they make “food noise” — cravings and food-related ruminating — go away.

But some experts hypothesize that the drugs might quiet other types of cravings, too.

For example, one study published earlier this year found that low-dose semaglutide reduced the number of drinks adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD) drank in a given drinking day. The drug also curbed weekly alcohol cravings and was correlated with less cigarette smoking.

Another study found that semaglutide users were significantly less likely to experience an opioid overdose over a year of treatment as compared to those who’d received other types of anti-diabetes medication.

Though more study needs to be done to draw an empirical conclusion, clinicians have noticed the effect anecdotally as well — so much so that some are prescribing the drugs off-label to patients who struggle with various forms of addiction. In a recent report published by Cure, which surveyed 122 physicians who prescribe GLP-1s, 56% said that “reduced cravings or dependency behaviors” was one of the benefits they’ve observed in patients using the drug for something other than diabetes.

“GLP-1 agonists likely treat all impulse control disorders,” one addiction-medicine physician wrote to the firm, “including ADHD [and] alcohol/stimulant/opioid use disorders.”

However, other experts caution that more longer-term, large-scale studies need to be conducted to confirm the trends — and perhaps discover any unexpected side effects.

Affording Ozempic and similar medications

One thing’s for sure: Ozempic and its kind are big business in the United States. Americans spent $71 billion on GLP-1s in 2023 alone.

Out-of-pocket costs can average higher than $1,100 if you pay full price, or about $300 per month if the treatment is covered by your insurance provider. (Shockingly, despite their high price tag, most of the drugs can be manufactured quite cheaply.)

Ozempic is still under patent protection, and according to SingleCare, a true generic won’t be available until at least 2033. However, a generic version of liraglutide, a once-daily injectable GLP-1 agonist, was approved by the FDA in 2024.

For now, if you and your doctor are discussing GLP-1 treatments, the best course of action is to check with your insurance company to understand what coverage is offered. (Off-label uses of the drug, such as behavioral health and addiction treatment, are generally not covered by insurance.)

You may also be able to look to discount pharmacies such as GoodRX or Lilly Direct to receive brand-name prescription GLP-1 medications more affordably.