The VA is testing whether a familiar diabetes drug could help veterans break free from alcohol use disorder. On July 28, 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs opened enrollment in the CRAVE trial — Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans — a nationwide study evaluating whether the GLP-1 medication semaglutide can reduce drinking among veterans with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.
What the Trial Involves
The randomized, placebo-controlled study will screen more than 600 veterans ages 18 to 80 across 18 VA medical centers nationwide, according to VA News. Participants will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo for 24 weeks, followed by a safety evaluation period. Researchers will track changes in alcohol consumption, overall health, and quality of life throughout the study, which is also listed on ClinicalTrials.gov as a Phase 3 trial.
Semaglutide is already widely known under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy for treating diabetes and obesity. Repurposing it for addiction treatment would mark a significant shift in how the VA approaches one of the most persistent health challenges facing the veteran community.
Why Researchers Are Hopeful
The trial builds on encouraging early evidence. An analysis of more than 600,000 VA patients with diabetes, published earlier this year, found that those taking GLP-1 medications had lower rates of alcohol and substance use disorders compared with similar patients on other diabetes drugs, Task & Purpose reported. Scientists believe semaglutide may influence the brain's reward circuitry, the same pathways implicated in cravings and compulsive substance use, which could explain the pattern researchers are seeing.
Alcohol use disorder disproportionately affects veterans, many of whom cite it as a way of coping with stress, chronic pain, or the transition out of military life. A treatment option that works differently than existing therapies could open doors for veterans who haven't found success with current approaches.
A Word of Caution from VA
VA officials are urging veterans not to jump ahead of the science. VA News is explicit that the department discourages veterans from self-medicating or attempting to substitute GLP-1 medications, or any other unprescribed substance, for established alcohol use disorder treatment. Evidence-based, proven treatments are already available at VA facilities, and veterans should talk to their health care provider before making any changes to their care.
Recovery and Movement Go Hand in Hand
At Operation WarriorFit, we see every day how physical activity and community support reinforce each other in a veteran's recovery, whether that recovery is from physical injury, mental health struggles, or substance use. Training for a race gives veterans a goal, a schedule, and a team of people rooting for them, the same kind of structure that makes clinical treatment more likely to stick. If you're a veteran, service member, or first responder looking for that next challenge, check your eligibility for a free race entry through Operation WarriorFit.