Could GLP-1s Cure Addiction? Examining the Evidence on Ozempic's Unexpected Benefit for Alcohol, Nicotine, and Compulsive Behaviors

Beyond appetite control, GLP-1 agonists act on dopamine-based reward pathways—the same circuits that regulate addiction. Users report that the same quieting of “food noise” extends to reduced cravings for alcohol, nicotine, and even compulsive behaviors like gambling and online shopping. Researchers suspect that GLP-1s reduce the brain’s reward response intensity, creating a sense of calm or satiation that diminishes impulsive drives. This emerging observation is sparking conversations about GLP-1s as potential addiction treatments.

While fewer cravings can feel liberating, experts warn against symptom swapping. Many people who used food for comfort may unconsciously replace it with other habits if emotional triggers remain unaddressed. Since overeating often fulfills a self-soothing function, removing that outlet can expose underlying anxiety or stress patterns. Without new healthy coping mechanisms, the brain may seek another dopamine source.

See the mental “quiet” induced by GLP-1s as a temporary window for transformation. Use this period to build durable physical, emotional, and social habits. Strength training, creative hobbies, and oxytocin-boosting social connections can replace the comfort previously tied to food or substances. The goal is not just fewer cravings, but a more resilient nervous system.

• Doctor Gary Linkov (ft. Dr. Liz Grand):
  • Referenced a podcast conversation where GLP-1s reportedly reduced cravings for shopping, alcohol, and gambling.
  • Raised the question of whether GLP-1-like satisfaction hormones could be cultivated naturally through social bonding or sunlight exposure.
• Johann Hari (The Diary of a CEO):
  • Highlighted that if Ozempic removes food as a coping tool, users must consciously replace it to avoid emotional imbalance.
  • Suggested that reduced addictive drives could make GLP-1s a breakthrough for mental health and recovery.
• Mark Hyman, MD (ft. Calley Means):
  • Discussed how GLP-1s “take away the desire for things,” asking if that’s therapeutically helpful or concerning depending on the behavior affected.
  • Positioned GLP-1s as a tool to treat both metabolic and behavioral addictions.

Next time you feel a non-hunger craving (snacking, scrolling, shopping), interrupt it with a 5-minute burst of physical activity—walk, stretch, or breathe deeply to reset your dopamine loop.

• Mistake: Ignoring the emotional void left by food or substances.
  Fix: Replace old coping behaviors with exercise and connection that naturally boost dopamine and serotonin.
• Mistake: Believing the lack of craving is permanent.
  Fix: Use this phase to build habits before stopping the medication; the drug is a bridge, not a cure.
• Mistake: Skipping mental health check-ins.
  Fix: Pair GLP-1 therapy with counseling or coaching for emotional resilience.

• “I stopped craving diet coke completely within two weeks of starting semaglutide.”
• “I used to overeat as emotional self-medication. Ozempic quieted the food noise and gave me peace.”
• “Someday I’ll no longer take Ozempic—by then I’ll need an ingrained system of new habits.”
• “I love Ozempic because I finally feel free from cravings.”

GLP-1s may offer a powerful biological pathway to calm addiction signals, reframing addiction not as a failure of willpower but as a hormonal and neurological imbalance. The challenge—and opportunity—is to fill the quiet space with healthier, human-centered rewards.