In a conversation with Becker's Behavioral Health, Dr. Adam Scioli explains why GLP-1s are different from the medications that came before them. Instead of targeting a single substance, they work upstream, on the brain's reward network itself. That's why clinicians have seen them quiet cravings across alcohol, opioids and even nicotine.
He describes what people often notice first: the craving, or the “noise,” gets quieter, and they're able to engage in their care sooner. The strongest responses, he says, have come from people facing both metabolic and substance challenges at once.
“It’s a very promising tool that can be part of this integrated process toward healing.”
The interview closes where the headline starts: GLP-1s are a promising tool inside an integrated plan, built on honest conversations about risks, benefits and alternatives.
Levelheaded is an independent company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Caron Treatment Centers, Penn State, or the outlets referenced. Coverage is shared for informational purposes. GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed here, and the research described is early-stage.
