Every GLP-1 Addiction Clinical Trial You Can Join Right Now
Alcohol Use Disorder Trials
STAR: Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction
This is NIDA's flagship trial — a randomized, double-blind study testing whether semaglutide is safe and can reduce alcohol drinking in people with AUD. Participants are randomized to semaglutide or placebo and visit the Baltimore facility weekly for approximately 20 weeks.
Phase 3 Semaglutide for AUD
Multiple Phase 3 trials evaluating semaglutide specifically for AUD are underway at various institutions. These large, multi-center studies will determine whether the positive signals from the Lancet trial and JAMA Psychiatry trial hold up at scale — the critical step before any FDA approval.
Copenhagen Semaglutide + AUD (Completed)
This is the landmark trial whose results were published in May 2026, providing the first strong RCT evidence for semaglutide in AUD. Listed here for reference — enrollment is closed.
Nicotine / Smoking Cessation Trials
UNC: Effects of Semaglutide on Nicotine Intake
A university-led trial examining whether semaglutide directly affects nicotine intake behavior. This is one of the first prospective studies to test the widely-reported anecdotal finding that GLP-1 users lose interest in smoking.
Eli Lilly Nicotine Trials
Eli Lilly has announced plans for dedicated clinical trials testing GLP-1 receptor agonists for smoking cessation. Details on specific compounds, trial design, locations, and enrollment criteria are expected to be released on ClinicalTrials.gov as trials are registered.
How to Search for More Trials
New trials are registered regularly. To find the most current listings:
Visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search using combinations like "semaglutide + alcohol," "GLP-1 + addiction," "semaglutide + substance use disorder," or "tirzepatide + smoking." Filter by status ("Recruiting") and location to find trials near you.
You can also check individual institution pages — NIDA, NIAAA, and major academic medical centers often list their active studies with direct contact information for enrollment coordinators.
What Participating in a Trial Involves
Clinical trial participation typically includes regular visits to the study site (weekly to monthly), administration of the study medication or placebo, blood draws and urine tests, questionnaires about your drinking/substance use patterns, and sometimes brain imaging. Most trials last 3-6 months with a follow-up period after the medication period ends.
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time. Compensation varies by trial — some provide payment for time and travel, some provide the study medication at no cost, and some provide both. All trials provide informed consent documents that detail exactly what's involved before you agree to participate.
Why Trials Matter
Clinical trials are the only way GLP-1 medications can be evaluated and eventually approved for addiction treatment. Without participants, the science can't advance. If you're interested in contributing to this research and potentially accessing investigational treatment, the trials listed above are a good starting point.
For general help finding addiction treatment (not clinical trials), the SAMHSA National Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357.
Sources
- ClinicalTrials.gov. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed May 2026.
- NIDA. Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction (STAR). NCT06015893.
- Klausen MK, et al. The Lancet. 2026;407(10540):1687-1698.
- Modesto-Lowe V, Sgambato D. Semaglutide for alcohol use disorder. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2025;27(6):25lr04040.