Popular weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro could reduce the risk of addiction to alcohol, tobacco and drugs, according to new research.
Weight loss jabs could reduce the risk of addiction to alcohol and drugs
A large study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists can influence the brain's reward systems, lowering cravings and reducing the likelihood of substance misuse.
The jabs - commonly prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity - work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is naturally released after eating and helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. Scientists believe the same mechanism affects areas of the brain linked to reward and impulse control.
Researchers analysed health data from 606,434 US veterans with type 2 diabetes, following them for up to three years. The study compared people taking GLP-1 medications with participants using another common class of diabetes treatment known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
The results suggested that GLP-1 drugs were associated with a reduced risk of developing several substance-related disorders among people with no prior history of addiction. The risk of alcohol-related disorders fell by 18%, while the likelihood of cannabis use dropped by 14%. Risks associated with other substances also declined, including cocaine (20%), nicotine (20%) and opioids (25%).
For people already using addictive substances, the medications were linked to improved outcomes. They had a 39% lower risk of overdose, were 31% less likely to require emergency hospital treatment, and had a 50% lower risk of death during the study period.
Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, explained that further clinical trials will be needed to confirm if GLP-1 drugs have a direct role in treating substance use disorders.
She said: "This study adds to emerging research exploring whether GLP-1 medicines may influence brain pathways involved in reward and addiction. However, because this was an observational study, it does not prove that these medicines prevent or treat addiction."