Alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a condition that affects around 29.5 million people in the United States alone, with that number likely being higher due to underreporting and the stigma surrounding addiction. Traditional methods for sobriety, such as rehab, FDA-approved medications, behavioral therapies, counseling, and support groups, may be insufficient, as various individuals relapse or require multiple rounds of detox or withdrawal to break their addiction. Although many traditional methods to sobriety focus on the cognitive aspect of addiction, it is important to recognize the role of addiction on the brain itself.
In her research, Dr. Jessica Hoffman recognizes the critical role of TARP γ-8 AMPA receptors in AUD and how TARP γ-8 regulates passive, active, and dependence-escalated alcohol self-administration. In her research, Dr. Hoffman and her team discovered a drug called JNJ-55511118, a TARP γ-8-bound AMPAR negative modulator that decreases alcohol reinforcement in certain mouse populations. However, this drug was not successful in all mouse populations, as the drug appeared to have a diminished effect in female mice and did not decrease their alcohol consumption. This further proves the point that not all treatments for AUD are successful and may fail in certain populations, which requires further investigation into which drugs are most effective and whether drug cocktails can be tailored to individuals to help them achieve sobriety.
These findings relate to an article published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, GLP-1 Therapeutics and Their Emerging Role in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders: An Endocrinology Primer. This study had a promising discovery, finding that Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may reduce cravings for alcohol, utilizing the hunger-reducing mechanisms of the medication to act on a similar pathway that fuels addiction. In a more recent randomized controlled trial, it was shown that a low-dose semaglutide (a newer GLP-1RA) reduced laboratory alcohol self-administration in rodent models and in humans. Although this study has some promising results, more research needs to be done on the seemingly connected pathways implicated in addiction and obesity.
Both studies show promising results in finding medications that will help those suffering from AUD, and researchers must understand that targeting the pathways or neurophysiology may advance the research to find a more definitive cure or path to sobriety. As we discover new medications that may reduce addiction, it is important to explore and recognize that medications will not work uniformly across all populations, and that the cure to addiction is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather an approach that combines medications, therapy, counseling, rehab, and support groups that is tailored to the individual's needs.
- Hoffman, J. L.; Faccidomo, S.; Saunders, B. L.; Taylor, S. M.; Kim, M.; Hodge, C. W. Inhibition of AMPA Receptors (AMPARs) Containing Transmembrane AMPAR Regulatory Protein Γ‐8 with JNJ‐55511118 Shows Preclinical Efficacy in Reducing Chronic Repetitive Alcohol Self‐administration. Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res2021, 45(7), 1424–1435. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14639
- Nirupam M Srinivasan, Mehdi Farokhnia, Lisa A Farinelli, Anna Ferrulli, Lorenzo Leggio. GLP-1 Therapeutics and Their Emerging Role in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders: An Endocrinology Primer. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2025; 9 (11). DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf141
- The Endocrine Society. "Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic may also curb drug and alcohol addiction." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 October 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251026021746.htm>.
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