(NewsNation) — Ozempic may not just be for weight loss; a new study suggests the drug may help those struggling with addiction.
Researchers analyzed 1.3 million health records and found that drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could potentially lower the rates of drug and alcohol overdoses.
The study, published in the scientific journal Addiction, looked at over a million patients who were prescribed obesity and diabetes treatments.
About 8,100 participants said they had an opioid user disorder while more than 800,000 participants had alcohol use disorder.
Individuals with alcoholism who took weight-loss medications like Ozempic experienced a 50% reduction in alcohol intoxication. Those with an opioid addiction had 40% fewer overdoses compared to those who weren’t taking the medication.
The authors of the study told NewsNation that they believe it reveals the possibility for new treatments for substance use. However, further research is required to determine whether these medications are a viable option.
Plus, the research had some shortcomings.
A psychology professor in the United Kingdom said those who were studied in this research had “very extreme instances of substance intoxication.” He went on to say that it may not be able to help people stop using alcohol and drugs but could prevent them from heavy drinking and possibly overdosing.