Is Ozempic the Future of Addiction Treatment?

Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have gained a reputation as the “holy grail” of weight loss solutions, causing a frenzy among those looking to trim down, manage their diabetes, and more.

These medications have shown some promise because of their potential to curb cravings and quiet what scientists call “food noise.” GLPs like Ozempic and Wegovy can also help restore the gut-brain connection and make people feel more full or satiated after a meal.

Now researchers are wondering what else these wonder drugs (or the science behind them) could do.

In the latest episode of AAC’s “Addiction Talk,” hosted by Joy Sutton, our expert panel discusses the future of addiction medicine and ongoing efforts to find new, innovative treatments for substance use disorders. (Cue: O-O-Ozempic!)

Guests Dr. Paul Kenny, Nancy Davis, and Jason Wahler address the alarmingly scarce amount of attention focused on this deadly chronic disease and point toward cutting-edge studies on the horizon.

“It’s an exciting time for addiction research. We are really understanding a lot of the mechanisms of addiction,” says Dr. Paul Kenny, renowned neuroscientist and director of the Drug Discovery Institute.

“But for this to mean anything, that knowledge needs to turn into new effective therapeutics,” he continues. “We need more help, more researchers, more interest, and big pharma to get behind us and be willing to develop new medications that are so desperately needed.”

Watch the full episode below.