Weight loss and diabetes drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro may help reduce the risk of addiction to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
The research examined glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, known as GLP-1 drugs, which are commonly used to treat Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.
Scientists believe these medicines may influence the brain’s reward pathways, reducing cravings by mimicking a hormone released after eating that helps people feel full.
The US study analysed data from 606,434 veterans with type 2 diabetes who were monitored for up to three years. Researchers found that patients using GLP-1 drugs had a lower risk of developing substance-related disorders compared with those taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 drugs.
Among patients with no history of substance use, GLP-1 treatment reduced the risk of alcohol-related disorders by 18 percent. The risk of cannabis use fell by 14 percent, cocaine by 20 percent, nicotine by 20 percent, and opioids by 25 percent.
For people already using substances, the drugs were also linked to fewer severe outcomes. The study found the risk of overdose fell by 39 percent, emergency hospital visits by 31 percent, and deaths by 50 percent.
Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the findings add to emerging research suggesting GLP-1 medicines may affect brain pathways involved in addiction. However, she noted that the observational study does not prove the drugs can prevent or treat addiction and that clinical trials are needed.
Gareth Jones of the National Pharmacy Association said the results suggest weight loss treatments could offer additional therapeutic benefits, though the rollout of such drugs to obese patients through the National Health Service remains slow.