Veterans to Test Semaglutide for Alcohol Addiction Treatment in New VA Trial

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated a nationwide clinical trial to investigate semaglutide’s potential in treating alcohol addiction among veterans. Semaglutide is commonly known as the active ingredient in diabetes and weight-loss medications like Ozempic. Over 400,000 veterans currently grapple with alcohol use disorder (AUD), an issue the VA seeks to address through innovative approaches.

The trial, named the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans trial, aims to explore how GLP-1 receptor agonists can influence addictive behaviors. These agonists replicate hormones that manage blood sugar, appetite, and brain reward pathways. Doug Collins, VA Secretary, emphasized that the trial reflects medical research tailored for veterans’ benefit, offering new treatment tools for AUD.

VA Alcohol Use Disorder Trial Details

The trial will involve over 600 veterans from 18 VA medical centers. Trials of this scale are vital for assessing treatment efficacy while ensuring safety and monitoring side effects.

• Participant Criteria: Veterans aged 18-80 diagnosed with moderate to severe AUD can enroll.
• Evaluation Metrics: Participants will get weekly injections of semaglutide or a placebo over 24 weeks, with subsequent safety follow-ups.
• Timeline: Recruitment started on July 28. Researchers will monitor changes in participants’ drinking habits, health, and quality of life to assess the effectiveness of semaglutide.

Veterans interested in participating can contact local VA medical centers or visit ClinicalTrials.gov for trial info. The trial comes after an observational study of veterans with Type 2 diabetes, which noted lower alcohol and substance use among those on GLP-1 medications. Moreover, these veterans showed reduced emergency visits and hospitalizations linked to substance issues.

The VA stresses the importance of consulting healthcare providers before altering existing AUD treatments. Self-medicating with GLP-1 drugs without medical guidance is discouraged.

Participating VA Medical Centers

• Ann Arbor VA Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, North Carolina
• Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
• Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois
• George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City
• Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia
• Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland
• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston
• Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis
• Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida
• Palo Alto VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, California
• Philadelphia VA Healthcare System, Philadelphia
• Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
• Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach, California
• VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles
• VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas
• VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
• William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin

Understanding AUD in Veterans

Alcohol use disorder, commonly known as alcoholism, involves an inability to control drinking, causing negative social, occupational, and health impacts. AUD varies in severity from mild to severe.

VA studies show 40.8 percent of veterans have met AUD diagnostic criteria at some point, with over 10.5 percent meeting probable AUD criteria within the last year. Younger veterans exhibit higher rates. AUD can coincide with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions.

Veterans with PTSD are twice as likely to have alcohol issues compared to those without. Those screening positive for both AUD and PTSD face heightened risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior. Treatment for both conditions through therapy, medication, or combined methods is encouraged by the VA.

Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Matthew Robinson and Anthony Murray.