Kenneth Blum^1-4 *, Panayotis K Thanos ⁵ , Kai Uwe Lewandrowski ^3,4,6 , Morgan P Lorio ^3,7 , Debasis Bagchi ⁸ , Frank Fornari ³ , Marco Lindeau ³ , Álvaro Dowling ³ , Rafaela Dowling ³ , Joao Paulo Bergamaschi ³ , Rossa- no Kepler Alvim Fiorelli ⁴ , Sérgio Luís Schimidt ⁴ , Alireza Sharafshah^3,4 , Rajendra D Badgaiyan³ , Sarah E Deemer⁹ and Mark S Gold

¹ Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University,
Ariel, Israel
² Division of Addiction Research and Education, Center for Sports, Exercise, and
Mental Health, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
³ Department of Neurobiology and Genetics, Origen Institute of Molecular Genetics
and Neurobiology, Austin, USA
⁴ Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de
Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
⁵ Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions,
Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxi-
cology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at
Buffalo, Buffalo, NY., USA
⁶ Division Personalized Pain Research and Education, Center for Advanced Spine
Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ., USA
⁷ Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, Winter Garden, FL, USA
⁸ Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University College of
Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA
⁹ Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North
Texas, Denton, TX USA

*Corresponding Author: Kenenth Blum, Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

Received: February 16, 2026; Published: February 28, 2026

Key Points

• GLP-1 receptors exist in the brain in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area
• GLP-1 agonist medications like Ozempic may work as anti-addiction agents
• GLP-1 agonists reduce food-seeking behavior, alcohol intake, cocaine reward, and improve other behavioral addictions
(food, porn, gambling)
• Prior to administration status of patient DNA caution against prescribing GLP1 agonists in hypodopaminergia
• Potential Induction of altered dopaminergic function may lead to suicide by exacerbating existing dopaminergic dysfunction

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Citation

Citation: Kenneth Blum., et al. “GLP-1 Diabetes/Obesity Medications in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders: Heaven or Hell ?". Acta Scientific Neurology 9.3 (2026): 13-18.

Copyright

Copyright: ©2026 Kenneth Blum., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.