Weight-loss drugs could help with alcohol and opioid addiction, a new study shows

Diabetes and weight loss drugs com Mounjaro and Ozempic it can also help patients who are suffering addictionaccording to a new study.

In the study, published Thursday in the scientific journal Addiction, researchers found that people with opioid or alcohol use disorders who take Ozempic or similar medications appear to have a 40 percent lower rate of opioid overdose and a 50% lower rate of alcohol poisoning compared to people. who do not take medication.

Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and managing editor for public health at KFF Health News, said these are “significant clinical impacts for patients.”

The study used a large data set, analyzing nearly 10 years of patient data at more than 100 health systems across the country.

Previous research has also looked at whether drugs can help people stop smoking.

Gounder says it’s possible that these drugs will be prescribed primarily for addiction treatment in the future, but more studies are needed.

“We would have to see some randomized clinical trials over time to show that this is really cause and effect. That’s what you would also need for the FDA to expand the indication, which paves the way for insurance coverage as well. But I think it’s quite possible that we’ll see that next,” he told “CBS Mornings.”

That doesn’t mean these drugs don’t have risks, however, Gounder cautioned.

“These drugs are working on the brain, and we don’t know what the long-term effects would be of having this kind of hormone affecting your brain. We don’t know what the long-term risks of cancer would be.” she said “We know there are risks of pancreatitisgallbladder problems, kidney problems and there are some reports of suicidal thoughts, so that would be a concern.”