GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including a zepbound KwikPen and wegovy injection, are photographed on a table at the Long Island Weight Loss Institute in Port Jefferson Station, New York, on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Karsten Moran / For The Washington Post …
The Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a new clinical trial to test whether GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes can treat alcohol use disorder in veterans.
The study, known as the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans trial, will enroll more than 600 Veterans at 18 VA medical centers nationwide.
Can GLP-1 drugs treat addiction?
By the numbers:
Participants between the ages of 18 and 80 with moderate or severe AUD will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide (sold as Wegovy and Ozempic) or a placebo. The trial will last for 24 weeks, with researchers tracking "changes in drinking, health, and quality of life to determine whether the medication offers a meaningful new treatment option."
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Currently, more than 400,000 veterans in the U.S. are diagnosed with AUD, and some estimates say AUD affects nearly 11% of U.S. adults, according to the VA.
Dig deeper:
A large study published in a medical journal in March found the blockbuster drugs that have reshaped the treatment of diabetes and obesity may help prevent multiple substance use disorders — and reduce the tragic outcomes they cause.
The analysis looked at electronic health records from more than 600,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patients with diabetes. It found that those treated with medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro were less likely to develop addictions to alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, opioids and other substances than those treated with a different class of drugs.
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In those already addicted, the GLP-1 drugs were linked to lower risks of hospitalization, overdose and death, according to the study.
Those results suggest — but don’t prove — that the weight-loss medications may be able to target the underlying source of cravings that affect the more than 48 million Americans with substance use disorders.
What they're saying:
"They’re actually working against the root cause of all these different addictions," Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, the study’s lead author and a chief researcher at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, told The Associated Press.
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VA Secretary Doug Collins said the VA is "uniquely situated" for this type of trial.
"By exploring emerging treatment options like the use of a GLP-1 for AUD, we aim to expand the tools available to help veterans take control of their health and recovery," he said in a statement.
Where will the VA trial be conducted?
Local perspective:
The study will be conducted at the following VA medical centers:
How to enroll in the trial
What you can do:
Trial recruitment began July 28. Veterans who are interested in participating can contact their local VA medical center or visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search for the trial.
The Source: This report includes information from the Department of Veterans Affairs and The Associated Press.