GLP-1s could be another tool in combating substance use disorder in the workplace

• Key Insight: Discover how GLP‑1 drugs may dampen alcohol cravings via brain reward pathways.
• What's at Stake: Workplace productivity, healthcare costs, and safety risk significant exposure if coordination fails.
• Forward Look: Employers should prepare for integrating GLP‑1 coverage with screening, counseling, and monitoring.
• Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

GLP-1 drugs have gained worldwide attention for their ability to help some people lose weight, and new research shows they may be able to help with another common problem: Alcohol use.
Patients who take medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are reporting a sharp drop — and sometimes even total loss — of interest in alcohol, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry. 

Early research shows these medications may affect the brain's reward and motivation systems, showing promise for nearly 13.6 million employees who suffer from substance use and alcohol use disorders, according to Nzinga Harrison, co-founder and chief medical officer of Eleanor Health.

"Anecdotally, some Eleanor Health members tell us that GLP-1s quiet the 'alcohol noise' in their brains in much the same way these medications quiet 'food noise' for others — and that's a promising signal," Harrison said in response to email questions. 

"By dampening the brain's reward response, alcohol may feel less reinforcing, leading to fewer cravings or a reduced desire to drink. Results vary, and GLP-1s weren't developed to treat alcohol use disorder, but the science and lived experience are continuing to evolve."

It's a hopeful possibility for employers and employees alike: According to the Center for Workplace Mental Health, each year excessive alcohol consumption costs the U.S. $240 billion — the majority coming from reduced work productivity. Most U.S. adults who binge drink or drink heavily are either employed or are dependents of someone employed. 

Read more: Benefit managers face booming demand for GLP-1 benefits

Alcohol use disorder accounts for 500 million lost workdays annually, the center found, with the highest rates of excessive use coming from workers in the mining, construction, accommodation and food service industries.

A treatment for other substance use disorders?

In addition to alcohol, studies suggest that GLP-1s may also be effective in treating opioid and nicotine addiction as well. In one study of patients with opioid use disorder, a GLP-1 medication reduced their cravings for opioids by 40% over three weeks, according to an article published by the Stanford Medicine News Center. 

A different study found that people with opioid or alcohol use disorder who took GLP-1s had a 40% lower rate of opioid overdose and a 50% lower rate of alcohol intoxication than people who weren't on the weight-loss medications, according to the article. 

Read more: How to keep GLP-1s from driving a wedge in your workforce

While the early results of these studies are promising, Harrison emphasized that GLP-1 drugs should be part of a comprehensive care plan. Alcohol use disorder is a complex medical condition that is shaped by biology, mental health, trauma and environment. 

"While GLP-1s may help reduce cravings for some individuals, they don't address the underlying drivers of alcohol use on their own," Harrison said in an email. "At Eleanor Health, medications — whether GLP-1s or medications for addiction treatment — are viewed as one tool among many. The most effective care combines medical support, therapy and recovery coaching, tailored to each person's goals."

Eleanor Health

For employers, Harrison said, this means coordinating GLP-1 coverage with screening for alcohol use disorder, access to counseling or treatment programs and ongoing monitoring and support through EAPs or specialty vendors.

"Without this coordination, there's a risk employees receive medication without addressing the broader behavioral health needs that drive alcohol-related absenteeism, healthcare costs and safety concerns."

Read more: How Trump's GLP-1 agreements will impact benefit costs

Based on the people she's spoken with at Eleanor Health, Harrison said that most clinicians are excited about the potential for GLP-1 drugs to help people with substance use disorder. 

"At the same time, most clinicians view GLP-1s as a potential complement, not a replacement, for established addiction care," she said. "From a benefits standpoint that means GLP-1s — if supported by further evidence — could eventually sit alongside counseling, digital tools, and medication-based addiction treatment as part of a more comprehensive employee benefit strategy."