Trending Now - Weight Loss Medications Show Promise in Reducing Addiction Risks

WHO:

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, lead author and chief researcher at the VA St. Louis Health Care System

Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, National Institute on Drug Abuse clinical director

Dr. Anna Lembke, Stanford University addiction medicine specialist

Prof. Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Kevin Hern, senior vice president of Lilly Employer

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, pharmaceutical companies

WHAT:

A study found that GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Mounjaro) may help prevent substance use disorders and reduce risks for those already addicted.

The study analyzed electronic health records from over 600,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patients with diabetes.

Patients treated with GLP-1 drugs had a reduced risk of developing addictions:

18% for alcohol

14% for cannabis

20% for cocaine and nicotine

25% for opioids

For those already with substance use disorders, GLP-1 drugs were linked to:

31% lower risk of emergency department visits

26% lower risk of hospitalizations

39% lower risk of overdose

50% lower risk of death

The study estimated that using GLP-1 drugs likely prevented about seven cases of substance use disorder and 12 incidents of serious harm for every 1,000 users over three years.

Eli Lilly launched a program to help boost employer coverage of obesity drugs in the U.S.

WHERE:

United States, specifically within the Veterans Affairs health system

WHEN:

Study published on March 4, 2026

Data analyzed from a three-year period

Survey conducted in October 2025 regarding employer coverage of GLP-1 drugs

WHY:

The study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may target the underlying source of cravings affecting over 48 million Americans with substance use disorders.

Eli Lilly's program aims to address barriers to access for obesity drugs due to uneven employer coverage.

HOW:

The study compared patients prescribed GLP-1 drugs with those prescribed a different class of diabetes medication (SGLT-2 inhibitors).

The observational study design used electronic health records to analyze outcomes related to substance use disorders.

A recent study published on March 4, 2026, by a team including Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly and Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, found that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro may help prevent substance use disorders and reduce risks for those already struggling with addiction among over 600,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patients. The research revealed that patients treated with these medications had significantly lower risks of developing addictions, with reductions of up to 50% in the risk of death for those already with substance use disorders. In response to these findings, Eli Lilly has launched a program aimed at improving employer coverage for obesity drugs to help address barriers to access.