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New Records Reveal the Mess RFK Jr. Left When He Dumped a Dead Bear in Central Park

New Records Reveal the Mess RFK Jr. Left When He Dumped a Dead Bear in Central Park

At this point, it’s useful to examine what precisely Kennedy said about the incident in his August 2024 video, in which he is speaking with, for some reason, Roseanne Barr.

“I was taking a group of people falconing up in Goshen, New York, up in the Hudson Valley,” Kennedy says. (Goshen is in Orange County, NY, home to a bear population that Hynes theorized the cub may have belonged to.) “And then a woman in a van in front of me hit a bear and killed it.”

Kennedy claims that he put the bear in his van with a plan to “skin the bear” and “put the meat in my refrigerator,” because she was in “very good condition.”

“And you can do that in New York State; you can get a bear tag for a roadkill bear,” Kennedy adds.

He and his friends had a wonderful time falconing, Kennedy says, and the day grew late. Eventually, he found himself running behind for a trip “right back to the city” for dinner at Peter Luger Steak House—presumably the original location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, rather than its Long Island location—and decided he didn’t have enough time to drop off the bear at his Westchester, New York, home. So the bear came to (apparently) Brooklyn. But when Kennedy’s dinner also ran long, he realized he had to go to the airport.

“I wasn’t drinking, of course, but people were drinking with me who thought this was a good idea,” Kennedy says, insisting for the second time that he was absolutely not breaking any laws that day. “I had an old bike in my car that somebody had asked me to get rid of. I said, ‘Let’s go put the bear in Central Park, and we’ll make it look like he got hit by a bike.’ It’d be fun, funny for people.” He explains that there had been “a series” of fatal bicycle accidents around that time—there had been two in recent months—which inspired the idea.

In the video, Kennedy claims that he was surprised to wake up the next morning and find that the story of a dead baby black bear in Central Park was big news—again, bears do not live in Central Park outside of its zoo—and had prompted a major law enforcement response. What made Kennedy especially anxious, he claims, was a news report that said the bike was being sent to a forensic lab for fingerprinting.

As HellGate summarized shortly after Kennedy’s video was posted, “???????????”

Despite the new documents that WIRED is able to disclose, there are lingering questions about the decisions Kennedy made that day in 2014. Let’s review the timeline: The bear was discovered on the morning of Monday, October 6, 2014. If Kennedy indeed disposed of the bear the night before, that would have been Sunday, October 5, 2014.

Kennedy claims that he found the bear in the Hudson Valley area on a road approaching Goshen, New York. Stopping in Westchester on his way to Peter Luger would have added about 35 to 70 minutes to the trip. Perhaps, even if he was meeting friends familiar with his purported love for animal carcasses (his daughter once alleged he decapitated a dead whale with a chainsaw, strapped its head to the top of his minivan, and brought it home, though a subsequent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration investigation said her claim was “unfounded”), he would’ve been unacceptably late. But why couldn’t Kennedy have just abandoned his mission to skin and butcher this baby bear by placing it in a wooded area anywhere between Goshen and New York City, especially knowing that he had a flight later? Only one man knows the answer.

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suggested that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink.

Can Ozempic Treat Alcoholism? Here’s What You Should Know
                Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and other GLP-1 medications have rapidly become some of the most popular drugs in the world. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s are now better known for treating obesity. In the near future, though, these drugs could have yet another vital use as treatments for alcohol addiction and other substance use disorders. Over the past few years, a growing base of evidence has suggested that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink. © siamionau pavel via Shutterstock There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

 I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

 Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders? Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

 © Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely. Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month? Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

 Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way. Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering? Shah: So there are a couple of things. These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

 © Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect. Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now? Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

 So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.      #Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As
© siamionau pavel via Shutterstock

There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders?

Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

The obesity medication Saxenda, made with liraglutide
© Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock

And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely.

Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month?

Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way.

Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering?

Shah: So there are a couple of things.

These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

Boxes of the GLP-1 medication Ozempic
© Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty

If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect.

Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now?

Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.

#Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As">Can Ozempic Treat Alcoholism? Here’s What You Should Know
                Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and other GLP-1 medications have rapidly become some of the most popular drugs in the world. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s are now better known for treating obesity. In the near future, though, these drugs could have yet another vital use as treatments for alcohol addiction and other substance use disorders. Over the past few years, a growing base of evidence has suggested that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink. © siamionau pavel via Shutterstock There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

 I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

 Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders? Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

 © Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely. Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month? Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

 Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way. Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering? Shah: So there are a couple of things. These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

 © Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect. Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now? Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

 So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.      #Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As

that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink.

Can Ozempic Treat Alcoholism? Here’s What You Should Know
                Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and other GLP-1 medications have rapidly become some of the most popular drugs in the world. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s are now better known for treating obesity. In the near future, though, these drugs could have yet another vital use as treatments for alcohol addiction and other substance use disorders. Over the past few years, a growing base of evidence has suggested that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink. © siamionau pavel via Shutterstock There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

 I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

 Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders? Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

 © Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely. Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month? Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

 Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way. Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering? Shah: So there are a couple of things. These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

 © Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect. Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now? Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

 So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.      #Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As
© siamionau pavel via Shutterstock

There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders?

Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

The obesity medication Saxenda, made with liraglutide
© Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock

And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely.

Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month?

Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way.

Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering?

Shah: So there are a couple of things.

These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

Boxes of the GLP-1 medication Ozempic
© Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty

If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect.

Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now?

Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.

#Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As">Can Ozempic Treat Alcoholism? Here’s What You Should Know

Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and other GLP-1 medications have rapidly become some of the most popular drugs in the world. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s are now better known for treating obesity. In the near future, though, these drugs could have yet another vital use as treatments for alcohol addiction and other substance use disorders.

Over the past few years, a growing base of evidence has suggested that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink.

Can Ozempic Treat Alcoholism? Here’s What You Should Know
                Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and other GLP-1 medications have rapidly become some of the most popular drugs in the world. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s are now better known for treating obesity. In the near future, though, these drugs could have yet another vital use as treatments for alcohol addiction and other substance use disorders. Over the past few years, a growing base of evidence has suggested that GLP-1s can tamp down people’s unhealthy urges for alcohol, cocaine, and even vices like gambling. And earlier this month, researchers in Denmark published data from the first double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in The Lancet. Over a 26-week period, the study found that people on semaglutide consumed less alcohol than those given a placebo and experienced noticeably fewer heavy drinking days when they did drink. © siamionau pavel via Shutterstock There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

 I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

 Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders? Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

 © Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely. Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month? Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

 Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way. Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering? Shah: So there are a couple of things. These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

 © Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect. Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now? Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

 So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.      #Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As
© siamionau pavel via Shutterstock

There are other similar studies underway, including in the United States. Some are testing semaglutide for other kinds of substance use disorder, like opioids. Others are testing newer drugs like tirzepatide (a dual agonist that pairs GLP-1 with the hunger-related hormone GIP).

I reached out to an outside expert, Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about the emerging science surrounding GLP-1s and addiction treatment. We discussed the leading theory behind why GLP-1s can reduce addiction, his opinion of the recent Lancet trial, and what it will take for these drugs to be widely adopted as treatments for substance use disorders. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Ed Cara, Gizmodo: Do we have any sort of sense yet as to how or why GLP-1s seem to be working well against substance use disorders?

Asim Shah: So the craving, or pleasure, center of the brain is related to dopamine, which is a brain neurotransmitter. Whenever you crave something and you eat it or you take it, that gives you pleasure. That is the dopamine functioning in the brain. And all of this is related to the same thing, whether it’s a craving for food, craving for smoking, craving for alcohol, any drug. That’s the neurobiological mechanism of craving and pleasure, and it’s all the same mechanism.

The obesity medication Saxenda, made with liraglutide
© Mohammed_Al_Ali via Shutterstock

And incidentally, we found out that the people who were losing weight on these GLP-1s, they often also stopped smoking cigarettes and their addiction got better with alcohol. It was an incidental finding, but it’s something people are now trying to study more closely.

Gizmodo: Speaking of studies, what do you make of the newest trial published in The Lancet this month?

Shah: So this was a 26 week study, which had about 100 patients, half and half men and women both. In our world, 100 patients is a medium sized study; a larger one might usually have 300, 400, 600 patients. So this is a medium sized study, which is decent. It’s not bad. And in my opinion, it was done pretty well, not a lot of bias in the study that I saw.

Now, of course, this is not a definitive study. And you need to follow up with these patients after the weeks of study. We call these start-up studies, and they are what we base future, longer and bigger studies on. So it’s a good base, and there are other studies on the way.

Gizmodo: Broadly speaking, what are the questions that these longer and larger studies need to try answering?

Shah: So there are a couple of things.

These are different substances that people are looking at; one is alcohol, one smoking, the other is opiates. So the next studies we should be doing is to see whether GLP-1s like semaglutide can limit more than one of these addictions. Because the mechanism is the same mechanism for all the cravings and the addictions. So can it reduce all of these or just one if somebody is taking it?

Boxes of the GLP-1 medication Ozempic
© Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty

If we do keep seeing an effect here, it’s also important to know how quickly this happens and whether it can be sustained after you stop using a GLP-1. That’s why we have to follow people after these sorts of trials, to see if the effect can last after they stop taking the medication or if it requires people needing to stay on the drug for the effect.

Gizmodo: These sort of studies are happening. But what should be the current takeaway for people with these addictions and their doctor? Is this something that could be used in the real world right now?

Shah: Because they’re not approved right now, the takeaway should be that if you already have a current indication to take a GLP-1 which is for diabetes or obesity, certainly take it. If you also get an added advantage of stopping your smoking or alcohol use disorder, that is well and good because we don’t have approval for these disorders currently.

So in other words, if somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I want to start these medicines for smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder,” we may not be able to prescribe it because there’s no approval. But they can be part of a study which is going on in some centers for those disorders. And if somebody already is using them for diabetes or so, and in addition, they get a benefit for alcoholism, that’s great, too.

#Ozempic #Treat #Alcoholism #Heresaddiction,Alcoholism,GLP-1s,Ozempic,Q&As
Bartesian is the Keurig of cocktails. After trying several automatic cocktail makers on the market, it was the only cocktail maker I could see fitting into my normal routine. It works like any capsule-style device, but with booze. You fill the Bartesian’s glass bottles with your liquor of choice, make sure there’s water in the reservoir, plop in a cocktail capsule (these typically cost $2-3), choose your drink strength, press “mix,” and then a drink comes out. (If you’ve got kids, the Bartesian Professional version comes with a lock that will stymie curious fingers.)

Do you need a Bartesian to make cocktails? Of course you don’t. You can dump tequila into sour mix anytime and call it a margarita. But perhaps you’d like to make an espresso martini, a blackberry margarita, and also a Long Island Iced Tea? The Bartesian is a sort of shortcut to a home bar, without having to store all the mixers—and a bit of a novelty. It will be fun, and silly, and the drinks are kind of fine in a Spring Break way: strong and sweet and with sometimes fun flavors. Don’t expect sophistication. Expect a bit of a party trick, the sort of thing that makes a summer a little more fun.

You’ll, of course, want a Bartesian coupon to make that fun more accessible. Luckily, the current Bartesian discount codes are good for up to 35% off.

Save up to 35% With a Bartesian Cocktail Subscription

Standard pods on the Bartesian come in packs of 8, for $20 to $25. But if you know you plan to use the cocktail machine often—garden parties, art gallery openings, a really cool barber shop, an interesting home life, Friday afternoon margaritaville—the easiest way to save on the Bartesian pods is to sign up for a cocktail subscription. No Bartesian subscription discount codes are required. Subscription boxes always cost $20, so get the ones that’d be otherwise expensive for a 20% discount—then get additional tiered discounts of Bartesian depending on volume and frequency. If you order often or in large quatnities, this can add up to 35% off the regular price.

Save 15% (Or More) When You Purchase a Cocktail Bundle

I can’t tell you what to do. But at current discounts on Bartesian cocktail bundles and add-ons, only a sucker buys a Bartesian as a standalone item. If you flip to the Bartesian bundles page, you can find multiple bundles that offer glassware and cocktail variety packs for about the same price as the machine by itself. The Mom Bundle in particular costs less than the Bartesian Pro machine by itself, but includes 8 margarita capsules and two glasses. As of April 2026, Bartesian is also offering a Mother’s Day deal, offering $100 off the Bartesian Pro or the Bartesian Duet as long as you add a cocktail capsule pack to your order. Presumably, if you are buying the machine, you’ll want the cocktail capsules anyway.

Bartesian Rewards Club: Get More for Your Buck

Bartesian also has a loyalty program that they’re calling, alternately, the Bartesian Club, the Bartesian Rewards Club, or Bartesian Mixologist Rewards. One way or the other, it doesn’t cost anything to sign up, and you get discounts. Basically, you earn 4 to 6 points per dollar you spend, plus get additional points for referring other customers, following Bartesian on Instagram, or just having a birthday. If you get a thousand points, you can redeem them for a $10 discount. There are also exclusive members-only tiers. Rewards are bigger if you’re a big spender. Here are the three membership tiers.

Earn 2,500 Points and Give $25 When You Refer a Friend

The biggest rewards bonus comes when you refer a friend who then buys a Bartesian or otherwise spends at least $150 on the site. Use the friend referral page here, and your friend will get a $25 discount using a Bertesian referral coupon code if they buy a Bartesian after using your link. You’ll also get 2,500 points on the Bartesian Rewards Club. Which is to say, you also get $25.

#Top #Bartesian #Discount #Codescoupons,shopping">Top Bartesian Discount Codes: 35% OffBartesian is the Keurig of cocktails. After trying several automatic cocktail makers on the market, it was the only cocktail maker I could see fitting into my normal routine. It works like any capsule-style device, but with booze. You fill the Bartesian’s glass bottles with your liquor of choice, make sure there’s water in the reservoir, plop in a cocktail capsule (these typically cost -3), choose your drink strength, press “mix,” and then a drink comes out. (If you’ve got kids, the Bartesian Professional version comes with a lock that will stymie curious fingers.)Do you need a Bartesian to make cocktails? Of course you don’t. You can dump tequila into sour mix anytime and call it a margarita. But perhaps you’d like to make an espresso martini, a blackberry margarita, and also a Long Island Iced Tea? The Bartesian is a sort of shortcut to a home bar, without having to store all the mixers—and a bit of a novelty. It will be fun, and silly, and the drinks are kind of fine in a Spring Break way: strong and sweet and with sometimes fun flavors. Don’t expect sophistication. Expect a bit of a party trick, the sort of thing that makes a summer a little more fun.You’ll, of course, want a Bartesian coupon to make that fun more accessible. Luckily, the current Bartesian discount codes are good for up to 35% off.Save up to 35% With a Bartesian Cocktail SubscriptionStandard pods on the Bartesian come in packs of 8, for  to . But if you know you plan to use the cocktail machine often—garden parties, art gallery openings, a really cool barber shop, an interesting home life, Friday afternoon margaritaville—the easiest way to save on the Bartesian pods is to sign up for a cocktail subscription. No Bartesian subscription discount codes are required. Subscription boxes always cost , so get the ones that’d be otherwise expensive for a 20% discount—then get additional tiered discounts of Bartesian depending on volume and frequency. If you order often or in large quatnities, this can add up to 35% off the regular price.Save 15% (Or More) When You Purchase a Cocktail BundleI can’t tell you what to do. But at current discounts on Bartesian cocktail bundles and add-ons, only a sucker buys a Bartesian as a standalone item. If you flip to the Bartesian bundles page, you can find multiple bundles that offer glassware and cocktail variety packs for about the same price as the machine by itself. The Mom Bundle in particular costs less than the Bartesian Pro machine by itself, but includes 8 margarita capsules and two glasses. As of April 2026, Bartesian is also offering a Mother’s Day deal, offering 0 off the Bartesian Pro or the Bartesian Duet as long as you add a cocktail capsule pack to your order. Presumably, if you are buying the machine, you’ll want the cocktail capsules anyway.Bartesian Rewards Club: Get More for Your BuckBartesian also has a loyalty program that they’re calling, alternately, the Bartesian Club, the Bartesian Rewards Club, or Bartesian Mixologist Rewards. One way or the other, it doesn’t cost anything to sign up, and you get discounts. Basically, you earn 4 to 6 points per dollar you spend, plus get additional points for referring other customers, following Bartesian on Instagram, or just having a birthday. If you get a thousand points, you can redeem them for a  discount. There are also exclusive members-only tiers. Rewards are bigger if you’re a big spender. Here are the three membership tiers.Earn 2,500 Points and Give  When You Refer a FriendThe biggest rewards bonus comes when you refer a friend who then buys a Bartesian or otherwise spends at least 0 on the site. Use the friend referral page here, and your friend will get a  discount using a Bertesian referral coupon code if they buy a Bartesian after using your link. You’ll also get 2,500 points on the Bartesian Rewards Club. Which is to say, you also get .#Top #Bartesian #Discount #Codescoupons,shopping

trying several automatic cocktail makers on the market, it was the only cocktail maker I could see fitting into my normal routine. It works like any capsule-style device, but with booze. You fill the Bartesian’s glass bottles with your liquor of choice, make sure there’s water in the reservoir, plop in a cocktail capsule (these typically cost $2-3), choose your drink strength, press “mix,” and then a drink comes out. (If you’ve got kids, the Bartesian Professional version comes with a lock that will stymie curious fingers.)

Do you need a Bartesian to make cocktails? Of course you don’t. You can dump tequila into sour mix anytime and call it a margarita. But perhaps you’d like to make an espresso martini, a blackberry margarita, and also a Long Island Iced Tea? The Bartesian is a sort of shortcut to a home bar, without having to store all the mixers—and a bit of a novelty. It will be fun, and silly, and the drinks are kind of fine in a Spring Break way: strong and sweet and with sometimes fun flavors. Don’t expect sophistication. Expect a bit of a party trick, the sort of thing that makes a summer a little more fun.

You’ll, of course, want a Bartesian coupon to make that fun more accessible. Luckily, the current Bartesian discount codes are good for up to 35% off.

Save up to 35% With a Bartesian Cocktail Subscription

Standard pods on the Bartesian come in packs of 8, for $20 to $25. But if you know you plan to use the cocktail machine often—garden parties, art gallery openings, a really cool barber shop, an interesting home life, Friday afternoon margaritaville—the easiest way to save on the Bartesian pods is to sign up for a cocktail subscription. No Bartesian subscription discount codes are required. Subscription boxes always cost $20, so get the ones that’d be otherwise expensive for a 20% discount—then get additional tiered discounts of Bartesian depending on volume and frequency. If you order often or in large quatnities, this can add up to 35% off the regular price.

Save 15% (Or More) When You Purchase a Cocktail Bundle

I can’t tell you what to do. But at current discounts on Bartesian cocktail bundles and add-ons, only a sucker buys a Bartesian as a standalone item. If you flip to the Bartesian bundles page, you can find multiple bundles that offer glassware and cocktail variety packs for about the same price as the machine by itself. The Mom Bundle in particular costs less than the Bartesian Pro machine by itself, but includes 8 margarita capsules and two glasses. As of April 2026, Bartesian is also offering a Mother’s Day deal, offering $100 off the Bartesian Pro or the Bartesian Duet as long as you add a cocktail capsule pack to your order. Presumably, if you are buying the machine, you’ll want the cocktail capsules anyway.

Bartesian Rewards Club: Get More for Your Buck

Bartesian also has a loyalty program that they’re calling, alternately, the Bartesian Club, the Bartesian Rewards Club, or Bartesian Mixologist Rewards. One way or the other, it doesn’t cost anything to sign up, and you get discounts. Basically, you earn 4 to 6 points per dollar you spend, plus get additional points for referring other customers, following Bartesian on Instagram, or just having a birthday. If you get a thousand points, you can redeem them for a $10 discount. There are also exclusive members-only tiers. Rewards are bigger if you’re a big spender. Here are the three membership tiers.

Earn 2,500 Points and Give $25 When You Refer a Friend

The biggest rewards bonus comes when you refer a friend who then buys a Bartesian or otherwise spends at least $150 on the site. Use the friend referral page here, and your friend will get a $25 discount using a Bertesian referral coupon code if they buy a Bartesian after using your link. You’ll also get 2,500 points on the Bartesian Rewards Club. Which is to say, you also get $25.

#Top #Bartesian #Discount #Codescoupons,shopping">Top Bartesian Discount Codes: 35% Off

Bartesian is the Keurig of cocktails. After trying several automatic cocktail makers on the market, it was the only cocktail maker I could see fitting into my normal routine. It works like any capsule-style device, but with booze. You fill the Bartesian’s glass bottles with your liquor of choice, make sure there’s water in the reservoir, plop in a cocktail capsule (these typically cost $2-3), choose your drink strength, press “mix,” and then a drink comes out. (If you’ve got kids, the Bartesian Professional version comes with a lock that will stymie curious fingers.)

Do you need a Bartesian to make cocktails? Of course you don’t. You can dump tequila into sour mix anytime and call it a margarita. But perhaps you’d like to make an espresso martini, a blackberry margarita, and also a Long Island Iced Tea? The Bartesian is a sort of shortcut to a home bar, without having to store all the mixers—and a bit of a novelty. It will be fun, and silly, and the drinks are kind of fine in a Spring Break way: strong and sweet and with sometimes fun flavors. Don’t expect sophistication. Expect a bit of a party trick, the sort of thing that makes a summer a little more fun.

You’ll, of course, want a Bartesian coupon to make that fun more accessible. Luckily, the current Bartesian discount codes are good for up to 35% off.

Save up to 35% With a Bartesian Cocktail Subscription

Standard pods on the Bartesian come in packs of 8, for $20 to $25. But if you know you plan to use the cocktail machine often—garden parties, art gallery openings, a really cool barber shop, an interesting home life, Friday afternoon margaritaville—the easiest way to save on the Bartesian pods is to sign up for a cocktail subscription. No Bartesian subscription discount codes are required. Subscription boxes always cost $20, so get the ones that’d be otherwise expensive for a 20% discount—then get additional tiered discounts of Bartesian depending on volume and frequency. If you order often or in large quatnities, this can add up to 35% off the regular price.

Save 15% (Or More) When You Purchase a Cocktail Bundle

I can’t tell you what to do. But at current discounts on Bartesian cocktail bundles and add-ons, only a sucker buys a Bartesian as a standalone item. If you flip to the Bartesian bundles page, you can find multiple bundles that offer glassware and cocktail variety packs for about the same price as the machine by itself. The Mom Bundle in particular costs less than the Bartesian Pro machine by itself, but includes 8 margarita capsules and two glasses. As of April 2026, Bartesian is also offering a Mother’s Day deal, offering $100 off the Bartesian Pro or the Bartesian Duet as long as you add a cocktail capsule pack to your order. Presumably, if you are buying the machine, you’ll want the cocktail capsules anyway.

Bartesian Rewards Club: Get More for Your Buck

Bartesian also has a loyalty program that they’re calling, alternately, the Bartesian Club, the Bartesian Rewards Club, or Bartesian Mixologist Rewards. One way or the other, it doesn’t cost anything to sign up, and you get discounts. Basically, you earn 4 to 6 points per dollar you spend, plus get additional points for referring other customers, following Bartesian on Instagram, or just having a birthday. If you get a thousand points, you can redeem them for a $10 discount. There are also exclusive members-only tiers. Rewards are bigger if you’re a big spender. Here are the three membership tiers.

Earn 2,500 Points and Give $25 When You Refer a Friend

The biggest rewards bonus comes when you refer a friend who then buys a Bartesian or otherwise spends at least $150 on the site. Use the friend referral page here, and your friend will get a $25 discount using a Bertesian referral coupon code if they buy a Bartesian after using your link. You’ll also get 2,500 points on the Bartesian Rewards Club. Which is to say, you also get $25.

#Top #Bartesian #Discount #Codescoupons,shopping

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