Early in the Ozempic explosion, many users reported drastic loss of food cravings — ranging from specific vegetables to junk foods and desserts. Some even said they lost their taste for beer and wine.
A group of scientists jumped on those anti-alcohol anecdotes and decided to see if the weight loss drug could also serve as a treatment for alcohol addiction. They reported promising findings in JAMA Psychiatry. The study reported that a small weekly dose of the drug, compared to a placebo, cut down on craving, quantity, and frequency of alcohol use.
This discovery is especially promising because alcohol abuse is both prevalent and problematic. In terms of prevalence, according to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 28.1 million adults who are 18 and older reported some form of alcohol use disorder in 2023. Younger age groups also reported significant alcohol abuse.
The problem is twofold. ...
