A study published in Addiction explores the potential impact of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) on opioid and alcohol use disorders. This research, led by Dr. Fares Qeadan and his team from Loyola University Chicago, investigates whether these medications—commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity—could reduce opioid overdose and alcohol intoxication in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The researchers examined a vast dataset from the Oracle Cerner Real-World Data, comprising over 100 million patients across 136 health systems in the U.S. The study analyzed two groups of patients—503,747 with OUD and 817,309 with AUD—between January 2014 and September 2022. By comparing the outcomes of those prescribed GIP or GLP-1 RA medications with those who were not, the researchers found a significant reduction in the rates of opioid overdose and alcohol intoxication among patients receiving these prescriptions.
Specifically, the study reported a 40% reduction in opioid overdoses and a 50% reduction in alcohol intoxication among patients using GIP/GLP-1 RA medications. These protective effects were observed across various subgroups, including those with comorbid type 2 diabetes and obesity. The results are especially promising as they suggest that medications typically used for metabolic conditions might also address critical aspects of substance use disorders.
The study builds on previous animal research that demonstrated similar effects of GLP-1 RA drugs, such as semaglutide and liraglutide, in reducing substance-seeking behaviors. These findings have opened new avenues of research into the role of these drugs in modulating brain pathways related to reward and addiction. Given that the drugs influence the brain's mesolimbic system, which is responsible for motivated behavior and the processing of rewards, researchers hypothesize that these medications may affect the "satiation" mechanisms for both food and drugs, thereby reducing cravings and consumption.
While this study is observational and cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the implications are far-reaching. If further clinical trials confirm these findings, GIP/GLP-1 RA medications could become a novel therapeutic option for treating substance use disorders, complementing existing medication-assisted treatments for OUD and AUD.
This study is particularly timely as the opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities worldwide, with overdose deaths in the U.S. increasing sixfold since 1999. Alcohol use disorder also remains a significant public health issue, with over 178,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. Addressing the barriers to treatment for both OUD and AUD, including the stigma surrounding addiction and the underutilization of pharmacotherapy, remains crucial. The potential use of GIP/GLP-1 RA drugs could expand the arsenal of available treatments and offer hope to millions struggling with addiction.
For more details, you can access the full study here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16679 (clearnet)
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