Opioids have caused 72% of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. since being declared a public health emergency in 2017. A new study from Case Western Reserve University suggests that semaglutide, a drug used for diabetes and weight loss, might help reduce opioid overdoses in people with both opioid-use disorder (OUD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Semaglutide, found in diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, reduces hunger and controls blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Researchers, led by Professor Rong Xu, studied six years of records from nearly 33,000 patients with both opioid use disorder (OUD) and T2D. They found that patients taking semaglutide had a much lower risk of opioid overdose compared to those using other diabetes medications.
In 2023, around 107,500 people in the U.S. died from drug overdoses, primarily due to opioids, according to the CDC. Even though there are medications to prevent opioid overdoses, only 25% of those with opioid use disorder (OUD) get them, and about half stop treatment within six months.
The results suggest that semaglutide might help treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and prevent overdoses. The study has limitations, so firm conclusions can’t be made yet. More research through clinical trials is needed to confirm semaglutide’s effects.
Journal reference :
- William Wang, Nora D. Volkow et al., Semaglutide and Opioid Overdose Risk in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Opioid Use Disorder. JAMA Network Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35247.
