GLP-1 trials test whether obesity drugs can also curb cravings

Researchers are moving GLP-1 medicines—best known for treating diabetes and obesity—into larger trials to test whether they can also reduce alcohol and other substance cravings.

The strongest recent evidence is for alcohol use disorder. In a 2026, 26-week randomized trial of 108 people with alcohol use disorder and obesity, semaglutide plus cognitive behavioral therapy reduced heavy-drinking days more than placebo plus therapy. The trial reported a 41.1% reduction in heavy-drinking days for the semaglutide group, with improvements also reported in alcohol consumption and craving.

Smaller studies have also shown promising signals. A 2025 trial of 48 people found that low-dose semaglutide reduced alcohol consumed in a laboratory setting and lowered some measures of drinking and craving. An eight-week oral-semaglutide study of 50 people reported fewer heavy-drinking days, though not every craving or drinking measure differed from placebo.

The research is expanding beyond alcohol, with trials investigating GLP-1 medicines for other substance-use disorders, including nicotine and opioid use. Evidence for these uses is much less established than the emerging alcohol findings.

The results are not proof that GLP-1 drugs are established addiction treatments. Trials remain relatively small or focused on specific groups, and researchers say larger studies are needed to confirm benefits, assess longer-term effects, and determine who might benefit. These medicines should not replace evidence-based addiction care.