"Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have had a major impact in their short time on the market-currently, one in eight Americans say that they have been on GLP-1 drugs. As tens of millions of people take these medications, anecdotal evidence has emerged that they have a positive effect on alcohol abuse and drug addiction. Researchers are starting to run trials of the drugs for these purposes, and some speculate that GLP-1 drugs could even affect addiction behaviors such as gambling and online shopping."
""Over the course of my reporting," he tells David Remnick, "I became more and more bullish on the idea that these are actually going to be really important molecules for the treatment of addiction.""
GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic have rapidly increased in use, with roughly one in eight Americans reporting having taken them. Tens of millions of users have produced anecdotal reports of reduced alcohol consumption and diminished drug cravings. Early clinical trials are beginning to evaluate GLP-1 agonists as potential treatments for substance-use disorders. Some scientists hypothesize that GLP-1 effects on brain reward pathways could extend to behavioral addictions, including gambling and compulsive online shopping. Observable patient responses have prompted increased research interest and the possibility of new addiction-treatment options.
Read at The New Yorker
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