GLP-1s Have Another Plot Twist

I continue to be fascinated by the research on GLP-1s. This latest study found that people with alcohol use disorder and obesity or type 2 diabetes who took a GLP-1, such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, had fewer alcohol-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations. Who woulda thunk?

This 2026 study by Rodriguez, published in BMJ Open, followed more than 40,000 adults with alcohol use disorder and found that newer GLP-1 medications were associated with a lower risk of alcohol-related hospitalization compared with several other diabetes, obesity, and alcohol use disorder medications. The findings are promising, but this was an observational study, and randomized trials are still needed before GLP-1s can be considered a treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Learn More: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/7/e109259