Clinical trial at Philadelphia’s VA Medical Center testing GLP-1 drugs to treat alcohol abuse disorder

Philadelphia's Veterans Affairs Medical Center is part of a new clinical trial testing whether GLP-1 drugs can be used to treat alcohol abuse disorder. A study published in March found that people taking Wegovy and Ozempic had lower rates of alcohol abuse and other substance abuse disorders than patients taking other diabetes medications. The VA Department says more than 400,000 veterans have been diagnosed with alcohol abuse disorder. VA Secretary Doug Collins says the VA is "uniquely situated to launch" this study and says the research will directly benefit veterans. About 600 veterans at 18 VA medical centers nationwide will participate in the trial over 24 weeks. (Photo by Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)