Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of substance use disorders among US veterans with type 2 diabetes: cohort study

The BMJ

This study investigated whether initiation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists is associated with both reduced risks of incident alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine, opioid, and other substance use disorders (SUDs) in people with no history of SUDs (protocol 1) and with reduced risk of SUD-related adverse clinical outcomes among people with a pre-existing SUDs (protocol 2). Researchers found that use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was consistently associated with reduced risks of developing various incident SUDs, suggesting a broad preventive effect across multiple substance types. Use was also associated with reduced risks of adverse clinical outcomes in people with pre-existing SUDs. These observational data suggest a potential role for GLP-1 receptor agonists in both the prevention and treatment of various SUDs, warranting further evaluation.

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Does the total consumption model apply to cannabis use?

Addiction

This repeated cross-sectional study based on annual surveys tested whether the total consumption model and its extension, the theory of collectivity, apply to adolescent cannabis use in Sweden. Frequency of cannabis use was measured by a question on how many occasions the respondent has used hashish or marijuana. The seven response alternatives ranged from 0 to 50 times or more. Increases in mean frequency use were associated with a higher prevalence of high-frequency users. Adolescent cannabis use in Sweden appears to conform to key predictions of the total consumption model and its extension, the theory of collectivity.

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Spirituality and Harmful or Hazardous Alcohol and Other Drug Use

JAMA Psychiatry

This meta-analysis of 55 rigorous studies on spirituality and harmful or hazardous drug use (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or illicit drugs) examined the association between spiritual exposures and related drug use outcomes. It documented a significant protective association of 13% related to both prevention and recovery. The risk reduction, which extended across all 4 drug categories, reached 18% for individuals with greater than weekly religious service attendance. These results have implications for clinicians and communities regarding future strategies to address harmful or hazardous alcohol or other drug use.

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Emergency Department–Initiated Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder

JAMA Network

This multicenter randomized study examined if 7-day extended-release injectable buprenorphine compared with sublingual buprenorphine to improve treatment engagement at 7 days. It included 1,994 adult patients presenting to the emergency department with untreated opioid use disorder and a Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score of 4 or higher. In treatment at 7 days, 40.5% were in the extended-release group and 38.5% were in the sublingual buprenorphine group, demonstrating no significant difference between groups. The study concluded that a 7-day extended-release injectable preparation of buprenorphine does not improve treatment engagement.

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Use of gabapentin with or without a prescription in substance use treatment settings: A national analysis of urine drug testing data, 2016–2023

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Gabapentin prescriptions have increased due to off-label use, including managing withdrawal/comorbidities in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, despite gaps in evidence bases and corresponding increases in nonmedical use. This retrospective, serial cross-sectional study sought to identify trends in gabapentin use with and without a prescription in SUD treatment settings. Researchers found that gabapentin prescribing significantly increased in SUD treatment settings despite a lack of strong evidence bases for its utility. While rates of gabapentin use outside a prescription were nearly double that for prescribed use, this appears to be decreasing over time. Polysubstance use and potential gaps in multimorbidity care may contribute to the use of gabapentin without a prescription.

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Association of alcohol intake over the lifetime with colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial

Cancer

This study analyzed data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial to look for an association between alcohol intake and colorectal cancer (CRC) or colorectal adenoma. Participants' lifetime pattern of alcohol intake was determined from a dietary history recorded as part of the PLCO trial. Current drinkers with a lifetime average of over 14 drinks per week had a higher CRC risk than those with under 1 drink per week (HR 1.25, p = .003) and an even higher risk of rectal cancer (HR 1.95). There was no consistent association between alcohol intake and colorectal adenoma risk, however results suggested that former drinkers may have a reduced risk of adenoma. They discussed potential mechanisms such as acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen and product of alcohol metabolism, and effects of alcohol on gut microbiome. They conclude that heavy alcohol intake increases CRC risk and that alcohol cessation may lower adenoma risk.

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Medication Availability for Alcohol Use Disorder in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities

JAMA Network Open

This study examined the availability of medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) in SUD treatment facilities (SUDTF) from 2017 to 2023. Data was obtained from SAMSA’s Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Tracking Repository. The percentage of counties with a SUDTF offering MAUD increased from 34% in 2017 to 50% in 2021. This increase leveled out between 2021 and 2023 perhaps related to the pandemic. Counties with a MAUD-offering facility were more likely to be metropolitan (57% vs 25%, p<.001) with substantially more population (mean 220,100 vs 26,650, p<.001), and fewer uninsured residents (8.5% vs 10.7, p<.001). They call for policies supporting MAUD-offering facilities, particularly in underserved counties.

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Public Views About Opioid Overdose and People With Opioid Use Disorder

JAMA Network Open

This study completed a national web-based survey of 1552 adults in the United States in April 2025 to assess perceptions of opioid overdose deaths and opinions of people who use opioids. Those who responded to the survey primarily identified as female (60.5%) and aged 30-44 (33.7%). Political views varied, with 28.9% conservatives, 39.6% moderates, and 31.5% liberals. Most respondents viewed opioid overdose deaths as serious (88.2%). Respondents felt that people who use opioids (81%) and pharmaceutical companies (72.7%) were most responsible for reducing overdose deaths, with more liberals identifying pharmaceutical companies as responsible while moderates and conservatives more often identified individuals as responsible. 38.3% of respondents reported they were unwilling to have a person with OUD as a neighbor and 58.4% were unwilling to have a person with OUD marry into their family, with higher percentages of conservatives than liberals endorsing these beliefs.

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