Study Links GLP-1 Drugs to Lower SUD Risks in VA Patients

A new study of more than 600,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patients with diabetes suggests that popular GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, may reduce the risk of developing substance use disorders and lessen severe outcomes for those already affected. Published Wednesday in The BMJ, the analysis examined electronic health records over three years and compared outcomes for patients taking GLP-1 drugs against those using other blood sugar-lowering medications.

The research, led by Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a chief researcher at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, found that patients starting GLP-1 drugs faced lower risks of addiction compared to the control group. Specifically, the drugs were associated with an 18 percent reduced risk for alcohol use disorder, 14 percent for cannabis, 20 percent for cocaine and nicotine, and 25 percent for opioids. Among patients with existing substance use disorders, GLP-1 use correlated with a 31 percent lower risk of emergency department visits, 26 percent fewer hospitalizations, 25 percent reduced suicidal thoughts or attempts, 39 percent lower overdose rates, and a 50 percent decrease in deaths.