Parkinson researchers find potential in diabetes drugs for treating addiction
October 23, 2024
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Researchers at Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health have uncovered promising findings that medications like Ozempic, often prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also reduce the risks associated with opioid and alcohol use disorders. According to a study published last week in Addiction, the official journal of the Society for the Study of Addiction, individuals taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic) with opioid use disorder (OUD) experienced a 40% lower rate of opioid overdose, while those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) saw a 50% reduction in alcohol intoxication.
The study, which included over 1 million patients (approximately 500,000 with a history of OUD and 800,00 with a history of AUD), analyzed de-identified electronic health record data from the Oracle-Cerner Real-World Data research database. Fares Qeadan, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics and lead researcher of the study, was inspired to use real-world data to determine if GIP/GLP-1 prescription drugs, such as Ozempic, could influence the two main negative outcomes of opioid addiction and alcohol intoxication when he noticed the impact of the drugs on weight loss.
“Clinicians prescribing drugs like Ozempic for diabetes noticed that their patients were losing weight, which wasn’t the original purpose of taking the drug—soon these medications started to be prescribed for weight loss, leading to their shortage due to their effectiveness,” Qeadan says. “I started seeing the statistics and thought, ‘if drugs like Ozempic can address food addiction, which is often perceived as more manageable, could they also influence more severe forms of addiction, like opioid or alcohol use?’ The underlying mechanism behind addiction, whether for food, gambling, internet use, shopping, or drugs, could be the same.”
Qeadan’s research focuses on substance use disorders and the opioid epidemic in the U.S., including barriers to addiction treatment in minority communities. For this reason, he and his research team—Benjamin Tingey, database manager and biostatistician, and Ashlie McCunn, a Loyola MPH graduate in epidemiology who will return to the University as a full-time epidemiologist in January—set out to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the GIP/GLP-1 prescription drugs and substance use outcomes.
“Our goal was to explore different and alternative ways of treatment to help break the chain of addiction,” Qeadan says.
Though the study shows a significant association between the medications and reduced negative outcomes in opioid and alcohol use, Qeadan emphasizes that this is just the beginning. “Our study shows association—it does not solve the root cause of addiction,” Qeadan says. “But it does show these drugs can reduce negative outcomes, which opens the door to further research and clinical trials.”
Qeadan’s hope is that the study, which has made headlines across the world, will lead to advanced research and clinical trials that evaluate the benefits of the drugs in reducing opioid use, alcohol use, and potentially pave the way for treating other substance use disorders.
Recently, Qeadan and his team were funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for a project titled “Advancing Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders: A Comprehensive Analysis of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Traditional Pharmacotherapies in Real-World Settings.”
In addition to his research, Qeadan has developed a biostatistics track within Loyola’s MPH program at Parkinson, set to launch in Spring 2026. “I don’t just want to teach students how to analyze real-world data and electronic medical records,” Qeadan says. “I want them to understand how powerful real-world data can be in solving major societal challenges—and to appreciate the art and science behind mastering this skill.”
In the media
- THE HILL: Study shows drugs like Ozempic could help reduce opioid, alcohol abuse
- TIME: Research hints that medications like Zepbound and Wegovy could provide new ways to treat opioid and alcohol abuse
Read more stories from Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health.
