# GLP-1 for Addiction: What the Research Shows in 2026

Source: https://www.dietglp.com/blog/glp-1-for-addiction/
Published: 2026-10-22
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**TL;DR:** No GLP-1 drug is FDA-approved to treat addiction. Early studies are promising: a small 2025 trial found low-dose semaglutide cut how much people with alcohol use disorder drank, and a 2026 BMJ study of about 600,000 veterans linked GLP-1 use to fewer overdoses and drug-related deaths. Telehealth companies now prescribe GLP-1s for addiction off-label, but the big trials, like Lilly's brenipatide studies, will not finish until 2027 and 2028. If you take a GLP-1 for weight, [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) helps you keep the muscle while the scale moves.

Can a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic or Wegovy treat addiction? **Not officially. No GLP-1 is FDA-approved for alcohol, opioid, nicotine or any other substance use disorder. Early trials and large health-record studies suggest they may lower drinking and cut overdose risk, and some telehealth companies now prescribe them off-label for addiction. The large trials that could prove it will not report until 2027 and 2028.**

This question got louder this week. On October 22, 2026, STAT ran a story about telehealth companies that are prescribing GLP-1s for addiction before any FDA approval. Here is what the science shows, what it does not, and what to ask before you try it.

## Why would a weight loss drug help with addiction?

GLP-1 receptors are not only in your gut. They also sit in the brain's reward system, the same circuits that alcohol, nicotine and opioids switch on. In animal studies, turning on these receptors makes drugs and alcohol feel less rewarding.

Many people on a GLP-1 for weight notice the same thing at home. Wine stops being interesting. The evening drink gets skipped. We cover that side of it in [GLP-1 and alcohol](/blog/glp1-and-alcohol/) and in our guide to [food noise and cravings](/blog/glp1-and-cravings/). The research question is whether that effect is strong and reliable enough to treat a real addiction.

## What the studies on GLP-1 and addiction show

Here are the main human studies, in plain English.

| Study | Who | What it found | How strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide trial, JAMA Psychiatry, 2025 | 48 adults with alcohol use disorder, 9 weeks, 0.25 to 0.5 mg weekly | Less alcohol per drinking day, less craving, about half as much alcohol drunk in a lab session; no change in number of drinking days; fewer cigarettes in the small group who smoked | Randomized, but small and short |
| Exenatide trial, JCI Insight, 2022 | 127 adults with alcohol use disorder, 26 weeks | No overall drop in heavy drinking days; a possible effect in people with obesity | Randomized, mostly negative |
| VA study, The BMJ, March 2026 | 606,434 veterans with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 vs SGLT2 drugs, up to 3 years | 14% lower risk of a new substance use disorder; in people who already had one, 40% fewer overdoses and 50% fewer drug-related deaths | Large, but observational |

The VA study is the one you may have seen in headlines. In about 81,600 veterans who already had a substance use disorder, GLP-1 users had 30% fewer emergency visits, 25% fewer hospital stays, 40% fewer overdoses and 50% fewer drug-related deaths than people on another diabetes drug. In people without one, GLP-1 users were less likely to develop problems with alcohol (18% lower risk), cannabis (14%), cocaine (20%), nicotine (20%) and opioids (25%).

That is a big signal. But it is an association, not proof. The veterans were mostly older men with diabetes, and people who choose one drug can differ from people who choose another in ways a study cannot fully measure. Only randomized trials can settle it.

## The new trials: brenipatide and more

The trials that matter most are still running. Eli Lilly is testing **brenipatide**, an experimental weekly GIP and GLP-1 drug, across several conditions:

| Trial | Condition | Phase | Expected primary completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07219966 | Moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (about 1,100 people) | 3 | April 2028 |
| NCT07219953 | Alcohol use disorder | 3 | April 2028 |
| NCT07420283 | Opioid use disorder | 2 | March 2028 |
| NCT07223840 | Staying off cigarettes after quitting | 2 | February 2027 |

Dates come from ClinicalTrials.gov and can move. Brenipatide is not approved for anything and is not available outside trials.

## Telehealth GLP-1 for addiction: what is being sold

In September 2026, a company called Quel Health launched telehealth care built around GLP-1s for addiction, in 41 states and Washington, D.C. STAT reported the drugs are prescribed off-label, since none is approved for substance use. Trade outlets reported plans start at $149 a month, cash pay only.

Off-label prescribing is legal. The FDA says a clinician may use an approved drug for an unapproved use when they judge it medically right for the patient. But it also means you are paying for a use that has not been proven.

If you are thinking about it, ask:

- Is this a brand-name, FDA-approved drug from a licensed pharmacy? Do not use "research" peptides or unverified sellers. Our [compounded GLP-1 guide](/blog/compounded-glp1/) explains the difference.
- What do the visits and the drug each cost per month?
- Will this be added to my current treatment, not replace it?
- Who do I call if I have side effects or a relapse?

## GLP-1 is not a swap for proven addiction treatment

There are FDA-approved medicines for addiction that work today. For opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. For alcohol use disorder: naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram. Methadone and buprenorphine lower the risk of dying from an overdose. **Do not stop or change any of these without your treating clinician.**

GLP-1s also have their own side effects, most often nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, per the drug labels. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so tell your prescriber if they do not settle. If you are pregnant, under 18, or have a history of an eating disorder, these drugs need a doctor's close review.

If you or someone you love is struggling now, the SAMHSA National Helpline is free and open 24/7: 1-800-662-4357.

## If you already take a GLP-1: protect your body while habits change

Many readers find their drinking drops on its own once they start a GLP-1 for weight. That is a good change. It also means fewer calories overall, and when calories fall fast, muscle can go with the fat.

Two habits protect you. First, eat enough protein every day; our [protein target guide](/blog/protein-target-on-glp1/) shows how to set it. Second, lift something two or three times a week, even at home with a [beginner strength program](/blog/beginner-strength-program-glp1/). [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) gives you one protein target, one 20-minute workout and a daily Shape Score, so you can see that you are losing fat, not muscle.

Mood can shift too as old habits fade. Our guide to [GLP-1 and mood](/blog/glp1-and-mood/) covers what is normal and when to call your doctor.

## Bottom line

GLP-1 for addiction is one of the most exciting ideas in medicine right now, and the early data on alcohol and overdose risk are real. But the proof is not in yet, insurance rarely pays, and proven treatments already exist. Talk to your clinician, keep any current treatment in place, and watch for the brenipatide and semaglutide trial results in 2027 and 2028. If you are on a GLP-1 for weight, [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) helps you keep your strength while you change.

## Sources

- [Hendershot CS et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with alcohol use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 2025](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4789)
- [Klausen MK et al. Exenatide once weekly for alcohol use disorder. JCI Insight, 2022](https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/159863)
- [GLP-1 medications get at the heart of addiction: study (The BMJ, March 4, 2026), WashU Medicine](https://source.washu.edu/2026/03/glp-1-medications-get-at-the-heart-of-addiction-study/)
- [A Study of Brenipatide in Participants With Moderate-to-Severe Alcohol Use Disorder, ClinicalTrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07219966)
- [A Study of Brenipatide in Participants With Opioid Use Disorder, ClinicalTrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07420283)
- [Telemedicine company offers GLP-1s for addiction, STAT, September 9, 2026](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/09/health-news-telemedicine-company-offers-glp-1s-for-addiction/)
- [Quel Health launches telehealth platform for addiction treatment using GLP-1s, Fierce Healthcare](https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/telehealth/quel-health-launches-telehealth-platform-addiction-treatment-using-glp-1s)
- [Understanding Unapproved Use of Approved Drugs "Off Label", FDA](https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/understanding-unapproved-use-approved-drugs-label)
- [SAMHSA National Helpline](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline)


## Frequently asked questions

**Q: Is any GLP-1 approved for addiction?**

A: No. As of October 2026, the FDA has not approved any GLP-1 medicine to treat alcohol, opioid, nicotine or any other substance use disorder. When a clinician prescribes one for addiction, it is an off-label use. Off-label prescribing is legal when a clinician judges it right for a patient, but it means the drug has not been proven for that use.

**Q: Do GLP-1s help with alcohol addiction?**

A: Early evidence says they may. In a 2025 randomized trial in JAMA Psychiatry, 48 adults with alcohol use disorder took low-dose semaglutide (0.25 mg, then 0.5 mg) or placebo for 9 weeks. Semaglutide lowered drinks per drinking day, craving and the amount people drank in a lab session. It did not change the number of days people drank. An older exenatide trial found no overall effect on heavy drinking days. Bigger trials are underway.

**Q: What is the best GLP-1 for addiction?**

A: There is no proven best choice yet. Semaglutide has the most human trial data for alcohol, and Lilly is testing a newer drug, brenipatide, in a 1,100-person Phase 3 alcohol trial. Exenatide did not beat placebo overall in its main alcohol trial. Which drug fits a person is a decision for a clinician who knows their history.

**Q: Will insurance cover a GLP-1 for addiction?**

A: Usually not. Because no GLP-1 is approved for addiction, insurers have little reason to pay for it for that use. Quel Health, a telehealth company that launched in September 2026, says it is cash-pay only, with plans starting at $149 a month. Ask any provider what the service and the drug each cost before you start.

**Q: Can a GLP-1 replace methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone?**

A: No. Methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone are FDA-approved for opioid use disorder, and naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram are approved for alcohol use disorder. They have years of evidence behind them. Do not stop or change any of these without your treating clinician. GLP-1s are being studied as a possible add-on, not a swap.

**Q: Are there clinical trials of GLP-1 for addiction I can join?**

A: Yes. Lilly lists Phase 3 brenipatide trials in alcohol use disorder, a Phase 2 trial in opioid use disorder and a Phase 2 trial in smoking relapse on ClinicalTrials.gov, and many university trials test semaglutide. Search ClinicalTrials.gov for your condition and the drug name, and talk to your doctor before you enroll.