The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new clinical trial to determine whether semaglutide, a GLP-1 medication commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, could also help Veterans struggling with alcohol use disorder.

The study, called the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans trial, will enroll more than 600 Veterans at 18 VA medical centers across the country. One of those locations is the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, making the study particularly relevant to Georgia Veterans.

Participants between the ages of 18 and 80 who have moderate or severe alcohol use disorder will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo for 24 weeks, followed by a safety follow-up. Researchers will examine changes in alcohol consumption, overall health and quality of life.

The VA says more than 400,000 Veterans nationwide have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. Researchers are interested in semaglutide because GLP-1 medications may affect areas of the brain involved in the body’s reward system. Previous research has found associations between GLP-1 use and lower rates of alcohol and other substance use disorders, but the VA says a controlled clinical trial is needed to determine whether the medication can actually reduce alcohol use.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said the research is aimed at expanding the treatment options available to Veterans dealing with alcohol use disorder.

The Atlanta VA Health Care System announced this week that recruitment at its site is scheduled to begin October 19. Veterans interested in participating can contact their local VA medical center or search for the CRAVE trial on ClinicalTrials.gov.

The VA emphasizes that semaglutide is still being studied for this purpose and strongly discourages Veterans from self-medicating or replacing established alcohol-use-disorder treatments with GLP-1 drugs. Veterans should consult their healthcare providers before making treatment decisions.