Asheville -- August 2, 2026: The Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville has been selected as one of 18 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers participating in a nationwide clinical trial evaluating whether semaglutide, a medication commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, could become a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The study, known as the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans (CRAVE) trial, is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development. Researchers will evaluate whether semaglutide can safely reduce alcohol use and improve overall health and quality of life among veterans with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.
According to the VA, more than 400,000 veterans nationwide have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, while the condition affects an estimated 11 percent of adults in the United States.
"AUD affects many veterans in our community, and we are proud to support research that seeks better treatments," Charles George VA Medical Center Director Stephanie Young said in a news release. "By contributing to research that explores new treatment options for AUD, we are helping drive innovations that could improve the health and lives of the veterans we serve and civilian populations outside of VA."
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. However, it has not been approved by the FDA as a treatment for alcohol use disorder. The CRAVE trial is designed to determine whether the medication is safe and effective for that purpose.
Researchers have become increasingly interested in GLP-1 medications because they appear to influence the brain's reward and craving pathways, which play a role in addiction. Several recent studies have suggested that patients taking GLP-1 medications experienced lower rates of alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders compared with patients using other diabetes medications. Previous research has also linked the medications to fewer emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and other complications among people with substance use disorders.
Currently, the FDA has approved only a limited number of medications to treat alcohol use disorder, and many patients do not respond adequately to existing therapies. Researchers hope semaglutide could provide an additional treatment option if the clinical trial demonstrates that it is both safe and effective for treating the condition.
The CRAVE study plans to enroll approximately 622 veterans between the ages of 18 and 80 who have moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. Participants will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo while researchers monitor changes in alcohol consumption, overall health, and quality of life. Each participant will be involved in the study for approximately 32 weeks, including treatment and follow-up safety monitoring.
Recruitment for the trial began July 28, and the nationwide study is expected to continue through 2029 as researchers complete participant follow-up and analyze the results.
Veterans interested in participating can contact their local VA medical center or search for the CRAVE trial on ClinicalTrials.gov.
VA officials emphasized that veterans should not self-medicate or replace proven alcohol use disorder treatments with semaglutide unless directed by a health care provider. Evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorder remain available through VA medical centers, and veterans are encouraged to discuss treatment options with their health care team.
If successful, the CRAVE trial could provide researchers with the evidence needed to determine whether semaglutide should become an FDA-approved treatment option for alcohol use disorder, potentially expanding care options for veterans and the broader public.