{
  "id": 5866196,
  "title": "Semaglutide might reduce how much people with alcohol use disorder drink when they do drink",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/semaglutide-might-reduce-how-much-people-with-alcohol-use-disorder",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-06T00:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/semaglutide-might-reduce-how-much-people-with-alcohol-use-disorder-drink-when-they-do-drink/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study explored the potential of semaglutide, a medication typically used for diabetes management, to help reduce alcohol consumption in individuals with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. While semaglutide did not significantly decrease overall alcohol craving or the number of daily drinks compared to a placebo, it did show promising results in reducing heavy drinking days, overall drinks consumed during drinking days, naturalistic cravings, and alcohol-related negative consequences. The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, involved 50 participants with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who were undergoing treatment. These individuals ranged from 21 years old to older and had a body mass index of 25 or higher, indicating overweight or obesity. Study participants were randomly assigned to either the semaglutide group or a placebo group, both taking the medication for 8 weeks. The semaglutide group showed significant improvements in various aspects of alcohol consumption and related behaviors, including a reduction in heavy drinking days, lower alcohol craving scores, and decreased naturalistic cravings in their daily lives. Additionally, participants in the semaglutide group had fewer drinks on drinking days, fewer alcohol-related negative consequences, and reduced cannabis use among those who used it initially. While the study provides valuable insights into semaglutide's potential role in treating alcohol use disorder, it is important to note that the treatment duration was relatively short, and longer-term effects remain to be seen.",
  "summary": "A new clinical trial suggests the weight-loss drug semaglutide could help treat alcohol use disorder. While it didn't eliminate laboratory-assessed cravings, the medication significantly reduced heavy drinking days and overall alcohol-related problems in treatment-seeking adults.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The finding that semaglutide reduces heavy drinking days and overall drinks consumed during drinking days suggests it could become a useful treatment option for people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}