Could Ozempic-Type Drugs Help Treat Addiction? What Clinical Trials Are Testing
Thirty-three clinical trials are testing GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide for substance use disorders, mostly focused on alcohol and tobacco, with zero trials targeting cannabis.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A systematic review of ClinicalTrials.gov found 33 trials testing GLP-1 receptor agonists for substance use disorders: alcohol (n=15), nicotine/tobacco (n=9), cocaine (n=4), opioid (n=4), and methamphetamine (n=1). No trials are investigating cannabis use disorder. Semaglutide was the most studied agent (n=15).
Key Numbers
192 records screened, 33 met criteria. Agents: semaglutide (15), exenatide (8), tirzepatide (6), liraglutide (2), dulaglutide (1), pemvidutide (1). Zero trials for cannabis use disorder.
How They Did This
Systematic search of ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to July 2025, identifying trials using GLP-1 receptor agonists as interventions for substance use disorders with substance use outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
The explosion of interest in GLP-1 drugs for addiction reflects growing evidence that the brain's appetite and reward circuits overlap. The complete absence of cannabis-specific trials is notable given that no FDA-approved treatment for cannabis use disorder exists.
The Bigger Picture
GLP-1 drugs are already transforming obesity and diabetes treatment. If they prove effective for substance use disorders, it would represent a paradigm shift in addiction medicine. However, most trials use older agents, and standardized endpoints are lacking.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only registered trials were included; results are not yet available for most. The review captured trial design and registration, not efficacy outcomes. Selection bias in which substances receive research attention.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why are there no GLP-1 trials for cannabis use disorder despite having no FDA-approved treatments?
- ?Will next-generation GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide show stronger effects than older agents?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 33 trials for addiction; 0 for cannabis
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic review of registered clinical trials, but most trials are ongoing and results are not yet available.
- Study Age:
- 2026 review with search through July 2025.
- Original Title:
- Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in substance use disorders: A systematic review of ClinicalTrials.Gov.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors reports, 23, 100671 (2026)
- Authors:
- Patil, Shruti, Jha, Nandini, Jha, Manish K(2)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08546
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can Ozempic treat drug addiction?
It is being tested. Thirty-three clinical trials are investigating GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide for various addictions, but results are mostly not yet available.
Why is there no trial for cannabis addiction?
The review found this gap without explanation. It is notable because cannabis use disorder has no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy, making it a prime candidate for new treatment approaches.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08546APA
Patil, Shruti; Jha, Nandini; Jha, Manish K. (2026). Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in substance use disorders: A systematic review of ClinicalTrials.Gov.. Addictive behaviors reports, 23, 100671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2026.100671
MLA
Patil, Shruti, et al. "Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in substance use disorders: A systematic review of ClinicalTrials.Gov.." Addictive behaviors reports, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2026.100671
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in substance use d..." RTHC-08546. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/patil-2026-glucagonlike-peptide-1-receptor
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.