GLP-1 drugs have been linked to numerous potential health benefits like treatment of existing conditions including heart disease, Parkinson’s, sleep apnea and addiction.

The blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may help people cut back on drinking, new research published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry suggests.

The weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may be beneficial for people struggling with alcohol addiction, a study published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry said. The study examined about 228,000 people in Sweden who had alcohol use disorder and Type 2 diabetes.

There has been a lot of excitement since the launch. Not only is the drug extremely effective (people lose about 15 percent of their body weight in a year), it also appears to have many benefits beyond just weight loss.

Lähteenvuo notes that while more research is called for, drugs like Ozempic may offer hope to those burdened by addiction, “Our study suggests that besides obesity and diabetes, GLP-1-agonists may also help in the treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders; however, these findings need to be further validated in randomized controlled trials.”