Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are suddenly gaining attention for their potential to treat not just obesity and diabetes—but addiction, too. Research on Ozempic holds promise for managing the same brain mechanisms involved in the cravings and reward-seeking behaviors that often drive relapse. However, the recovery world doesn’t yet fully understand the effects of weight-loss drugs for substance use disorder (SUD) treatments, so our St. Gregory Recovery Center staff can’t yet make this potential advancement part of our addiction treatment toolbox.
In the meantime, our Bayard and Des Moines facilities offer a comprehensive suite of services to support recovery. Patients can still rely on proven holistic care while healthcare professionals learn more about weight-loss drugs as a supplemental component of residential addiction treatment.
Keep reading to learn more about the science of Ozempic and check out our most popular addiction treatment services:
- Medical detoxification for safe, supervised withdrawal management
- Behavioral therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address destructive habits and craving management
- Wellness practices like yoga, meditation, and nutritional counseling promote overall well-being
What Are Weight-Loss Drugs and How Do They Work?
Ozempic and similar medications can help manage type 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar and helping you feel fuller longer. Essentially, weight-loss drugs are glucose-lowering medicines but, over time, the drugs also work well for losing weight. That’s why they’ve become so popular and effective for managing obesity in combination with diet, exercise, and healthy habits.
The Obesity-Addiction Connection
Both addiction and obesity conditions involve dopamine pathways of the brain’s reward system that drive cravings and high-seeking behaviors. This overlap explains why individuals with obesity or binge eating disorders often report similar cravings and loss of control to those suffering from addiction.
Large-scale studies suggest that glucose-lowering medications may help curb addictive behaviors by targeting these shared reward pathways. For over eight years, scientists observed upwards of 1.3 million people with alcohol or opioid use disorders in over one hundred health systems. What they found regarding alcohol, stimulant, and opioid abuse was fascinating.
- Data shows reduced alcohol consumption among those taking Ozempic or Wegovy.
- Researchers found a 50% lower rate of binge drinking in people with glucose-lowering medicines.
- Research shows a 40% lower rate of opioid overdoses among people with glucose-lowering prescriptions.
- Addictive behaviors involving opioids, nicotine, cocaine, and meth may decrease with glucose-lowering weight-loss drugs.
How Glucose-Lowering Drugs Could Advance Sobriety
By reducing cravings and muting the brain’s reward response to substances, these medications may, one day, significantly enhance existing therapies and treatment approaches. But, we’re excited to predict how drugs like Ozempic might play out in real-life scenarios:
- Early sobriety support: A person new to recovery might find it easier to resist the pull of alcohol or opioids as glucose-lowering drugs may reduce cravings.
- Post-treatment maintenance: After completing detoxification, patients could use these medications to help sustain long-term sobriety by reducing the risk of relapse.
- Dual-diagnosis management: Someone battling both obesity and addiction could experience improved overall health by addressing both conditions simultaneously.
- Breaking cycles of dependency: People with a history of compulsive behaviors, such as gambling or overeating, might find added support in curbing these tendencies as well.
While still in the early stages, these advancements might just complement the care we provide offering more hope to individuals striving for lasting recovery.
Fun Facts About Ozempic and Similar Drugs
- Lizard venom origins: Believe it or not, the inspiration for drugs like Ozempic came from the venom of the Gila monster, a slow-moving desert lizard. Scientists discovered that the lizards have a unique insulin-regulating venom compound.
- Originally for diabetes: Although created to treat diabetes, Ozempic became a game-changer for weight loss, with some versions helping people shed up to 15% of their body weight.
- Intercepts hunger: These drugs work by interacting with parts of the brain that control hunger, helping you feel full for longer and reducing the urge to eat.
- Dual benefits for weight loss: Newer drugs like Mounjaro combine the effects of two hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite, making them even more effective for losing weight than Ozempic.
- No pill form: Most of these drugs are injections because they don’t work well as pills. Efforts to create oral versions are ongoing but face challenges in making them effective and affordable.
The Road Ahead For Weight Loss, Sobriety, and Healthy Living
While the findings on glucose-lowering drugs are exciting, experts consistently remind us that we still need more research before Ozempic-like medications become mainstream treatments for addiction.
Still, for those struggling with alcohol or drug dependency in Bayard, Des Moines, or beyond, these breakthroughs are a hopeful step forward. If you or someone you love is battling addiction, contact us at St. Gregory Recovery Center today.
