The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched a nationwide clinical trial on July 28, 2026, to test whether the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide can treat moderate or severe alcohol use disorder in veterans. The CRAVE trial will enroll more than 600 participants across 18 medical centers.
The federal health system is taking a direct aim at substance misuse by testing a class of blockbuster medications typically prescribed for diabetes and weight management. More than 400,000 veterans across the United States have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, prompting federal health officials to initiate the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans study, known as the CRAVE trial.
Recruitment for the trial officially began on July 28, 2026. The initiative arrives as researchers increasingly explore whether medications originally developed to regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite can also quiet the underlying neural pathways driving addiction.
How the CRAVE Trial Evaluates Semaglutide
The clinical trial will enroll more than 600 veterans between the ages of 18 and 80 who suffer from moderate or severe alcohol use disorder. Over a 24-week period, participants will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide—sold under brand names including Ozempic and Wegovy—or an inactive placebo.
Neither the patients nor the clinicians working directly with them will know who receives the active medication and who receives the placebo. Participants assigned to semaglutide begin on a low dose that gradually increases to a maximum of 2.4 milligrams per week, depending on individual tolerance.
Researchers will track changes in drinking, health, and quality of life to determine if the drug offers a viable therapeutic path. A post-treatment safety monitoring period will follow the 24 weeks of active intervention.
Washington University Research on Addictive Substances
The decision to launch a large-scale federal trial follows mounting scientific evidence connecting GLP-1 receptor agonists to reduced substance cravings. An analysis published in March examined electronic health records from more than 600,000 U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes, comparing those taking GLP-1 medications against patients treated with other diabetes drugs.
The study found that patients treated with GLP-1 medications experienced lower rates of alcohol use disorder and reduced risks of developing addictions to cocaine, nicotine, opioids and other substances. For individuals who already lived with a substance use disorder, the drugs were associated with lower risks of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and overdose.
Al-Aly added that the breakthrough of GLP-1 medications lies in their uniform action against cravings rather than any specific interaction with a single drug or alcohol molecule.
Participating VA Medical Centers Across 13 States
The nationwide study spans 18 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers distributed across 13 states.
- Florida: Orlando VA Medical Center
- Illinois: Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (Hines)
- Michigan: Ann Arbor VA Health Care System
- Minnesota: Minneapolis VA Medical Center
- North Carolina: Charles George VA Medical Center (Asheville) and Durham VA Medical Center
- Ohio: Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Texas: VA North Texas Health Care System (Dallas) and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston)
- Utah: George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center (Salt Lake City)
- Wisconsin: William S.
Georgia: Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center (Decatur)
Official Stance and Treatment Guidance
Federal officials emphasize that semaglutide is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, not for alcohol use disorder. Department leadership framed the clinical trial as a strategic investment in specialized care.
Collins noted on social media that the trial capitalizes on research infrastructure unique to the veterans’ healthcare system.
“By exploring emerging treatment options like the use of a GLP-1 for AUD, we aim to expand the tools available to help Veterans take control of their health and recovery.”
VA Secretary Doug Collins, via Military Times
Department leadership strongly cautions patients against attempting to self-medicate or substituting established addiction treatments with GLP-1 drugs outside of the controlled trial environment. Veterans interested in joining the CRAVE study can contact their local medical facility or review study listings on ClinicalTrials.gov.
