Diet and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could also help people struggling with alcohol and opioid abuse, according to a new study.

The weight-loss drugs are linked with reduced rates of excess drinking and opioid overdoses, suggesting they may tamp down substance use cravings too.

New research shows that Ozempic and similar drugs reduce opioid overdoses by 40% and alcohol intoxication by 50% in people with substance use disorders. These medications, often prescribed for diabetes and weight issues,

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago are adding to the growing evidence suggesting that medications like Ozempic can treat substance abuse. Ozempic — which mimics the body’s naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone to make people feel full and eat less — treats diabetes and can spur weight loss.

Weight loss drugs have risen in popularity in the recent years, but a disconnect remains between those who need the drugs and those who can afford to buy them. Drugs like Ozempic, which isn’t available in New Zealand,

What health experts think of the growing Ozempic “microdosing” trend that claims taking very small doses of GLP-1 drugs can still help people lose weight with fewer side effects at a lower cost.

Weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could be used to treat drug and alcohol addiction in the future — according to the first large-scale study — but more research is needed.

Weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, made by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, can reduce rates of opioid and alcohol abuse by up to 50%, according to a new study that supports expectations the drugs can offer greater benefits than just weight and diabetes management.

Drugs​ like Mounjaro and Ozempic, which many use for weight loss,​​ may also help patients suffering from addiction, according to a new study.