A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that repeated semaglutide treatment — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — reduced cocaine-seeking behavior in rats, adding to a growing body of research exploring GLP-1 medications as potential treatments for substance use disorders.
What the Study Found
Researchers tested whether semaglutide could reduce cocaine use in a preclinical animal model where rats chose between cocaine and food. After repeated five-day semaglutide treatment cycles, the rats showed decreased cocaine choice. The effect was seen in both male and female rats. Notably, semaglutide also significantly reduced body weight in the study animals — a finding consistent with its already established role as a weight-loss medication in humans.
The authors concluded that these preclinical results support the clinical evaluation of semaglutide as a candidate medication for cocaine use disorder.
Why This Matters for GLP-1 Users
This research fits into a broader scientific conversation about whether GLP-1 receptor agonists — the drug class that includes semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), as well as tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) — may influence reward and craving pathways in the brain beyond just appetite and blood sugar. GLP-1 receptors are found in brain regions associated with reward processing, which scientists believe may explain why these medications could affect substance-seeking behaviors.
For people currently taking GLP-1 medications for diabetes or weight management, this study does not change how or why you should use your medication. However, it does signal that researchers are actively investigating additional benefits that could eventually expand how these drugs are prescribed.
Key takeaway: This is an animal study — results in rats do not guarantee the same effects in humans. Semaglutide is not currently approved to treat cocaine use disorder, and researchers say clinical trials in people are the necessary next step.
Important Limitations to Keep in Mind
Preclinical rat studies are an early but critical step in drug development — they are designed to determine whether a treatment is worth investigating further in humans, not to prove that it works in people. The jump from animal models to human clinical trials is significant, and many promising preclinical findings do not translate directly. No human trial data on semaglutide for cocaine use disorder was included in this study's findings.
What to Watch Next
The researchers themselves call for clinical trials to evaluate semaglutide as a cocaine use disorder medication in humans. If such trials are launched, they would likely take several years to produce results. In the meantime, scientists and clinicians will be watching for further preclinical and early-phase human data on GLP-1 drugs and addiction. This is a fast-moving area of research worth following for anyone interested in the expanding potential of this drug class.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about how your GLP-1 medication may affect you — including any concerns about cravings or substance use — speak with your prescriber or a qualified healthcare professional who can give you guidance tailored to your individual health history.
- Peer-reviewed journal article, 'Repeated semaglutide treatment attenuates cocaine-vs-food choice in male and female rats,' Neuropsychopharmacology, date not specified in source material.