VA to test whether GLP-1s can treat alcohol use disorder

The Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a clinical trial to see if semaglutide, the chemical used in popular weight loss drugs, can also be used to help treat alcoholism.

The new trial, announced on Thursday, will screen more than 600 veterans with “moderate or severe” alcohol use disorder over the course of 24 weeks, seeing if taking semaglutide-based medications can help reduce alcohol intake.

Enrollment for the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans trial, or “CRAVE trial,” started this week. The VA is looking for veterans between the ages of 18 and 80 for the study. Participants will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo. 

Researchers will monitor them for 24 weeks to track “changes in drinking, health, and quality of life to determine whether the medication offers a meaningful new treatment option. The nearly half-year study is expected to wrap up in the spring of 2027. The trial will be carried out at 18 VA medical centers around the country.

Semaglutide was developed as a way to help treat diabetes but has been proven to be effective as a weight loss drug. It is used in drugs on the market such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

A study published in March, cited by the VA in its announcement of the CRAVE trial, found that taking GLP-1 medications showed a reduced risk of developing substance use disorders and risks in people who already experience such disorders. 

“This clinical trial reflects medical research that VA is uniquely situated to launch, and is aimed directly at benefitting veterans,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in the announcement. “By exploring emerging treatment options like the use of a GLP-1 for [alcohol use disorder], we aim to expand the tools available to help veterans take control of their health and recovery.” 

Alcohol use disorder affects a large number of Americans nationwide, veteran or otherwise. More than 29 million people in the country experienced alcohol use disorder in 2022, and more than 400,000 veterans have been diagnosed with it, according to the VA. 

A March 2024 study from the American Journal of Medicine found that “high-risk” alcohol use rose since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The VA has tried other studies and trials to look at new ways of helping veterans deal with alcohol use disorder. In May, the department launched a new trial to see if MDMA-assisted therapy could help treat alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Veterans interested in participating in the CRAVE trial are encouraged to visit clinicaltrials.gov or contact their local VA medical center.

As the trial is just starting and findings are far out, the VA urged veterans not to self-medicate using GLP-1s or use it in place of approved treatments. According to the department’s own site, alongside therapy-based treatments, there are approved medications to help veterans deal with alcohol withdrawal symptoms.