GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Fewer Opioid Overdoses and Alcohol Intoxications in Large US Study
Among 500,000+ patients, GLP-1/GIP drug prescriptions were associated with reduced opioid overdoses and alcohol intoxications in those with substance use disorders.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
GLP-1/GIP drug prescriptions were associated with reduced opioid overdoses and alcohol intoxications in over 500,000 patients with substance use disorders.
Key Numbers
N=503,747 OUD patients; N=817,309 AUD patients; 136 US health systems; Jan 2014-Sep 2022; lower incidence of overdose/intoxication with GIP/GLP-1 RA prescriptions.
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort study of de-identified EHR data from 136 US health systems (Oracle Cerner), Jan 2014 – Sept 2022.
Why This Research Matters
The opioid and alcohol crises claim hundreds of thousands of lives — if GLP-1 drugs reduce substance use outcomes, the public health impact could be enormous.
The Bigger Picture
This is the largest study yet suggesting GLP-1 drugs affect addiction — potentially opening an entirely new therapeutic category for these medications.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective observational design — cannot prove causation. Confounding by indication possible (healthier patients may get GLP-1 drugs).
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the mechanism linking GLP-1 signaling to reduced substance use?
- ?Would randomized trials of GLP-1 drugs for addiction confirm these observational findings?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 503,747 patients Largest real-world study linking GLP-1/GIP drugs to reduced substance use outcomes
- Evidence Grade:
- Large retrospective EHR study — powerful association data but observational design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 in Addiction, a leading substance use journal.
- Original Title:
- The association between glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and/or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist prescriptions and substance-related outcomes in patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders: A real-world data analysis.
- Published In:
- Addiction (Abingdon, England), 120(2), 236-250 (2025)
- Authors:
- Qeadan, Fares, McCunn, Ashlie, Tingey, Benjamin
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13134
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can GLP-1 drugs help with addiction?
This large study found fewer opioid overdoses and alcohol intoxications among patients prescribed GLP-1 drugs, but clinical trials are needed to confirm a causal effect.
How might GLP-1 drugs affect substance use?
GLP-1 receptors are present in brain reward circuits — these drugs may reduce the rewarding effects of substances, though the exact mechanism is still being studied.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13134APA
Qeadan, Fares; McCunn, Ashlie; Tingey, Benjamin. (2025). The association between glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and/or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist prescriptions and substance-related outcomes in patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders: A real-world data analysis.. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 120(2), 236-250. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16679
MLA
Qeadan, Fares, et al. "The association between glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and/or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist prescriptions and substance-related outcomes in patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders: A real-world data analysis.." Addiction (Abingdon, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16679
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "The association between glucose-dependent insulinotropic pol..." RPEP-13134. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/qeadan-2025-the-association-between-glucosedependent
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 RethinkPeptides 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.