Dr. Mark Gold: Can GLP-1s Help Treat Addiction? The Science Behind Cravings & Recovery
6/23/20261 hr 7 min
Could medications originally developed for diabetes and weight loss help transform addiction treatment?
In this episode of We’re Out of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with addiction medicine pioneer Dr. Mark Gold, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern addiction medicine. For more than five decades, Dr. Gold has helped shape the scientific understanding of addiction, cravings, dopamine, withdrawal, and recovery, with groundbreaking research that has influenced treatment approaches around the world.
Together, they explore the growing interest in GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, and why many researchers believe they could represent a major breakthrough in treating substance use disorders. Dr. Gold explains the science behind cravings, the gut-brain connection, food addiction, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and how GLP-1s may help reduce compulsive behaviors.
Richard also shares observations from Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa after integrating GLP-1 medications into treatment for over three years, including an early finding that approximately 80% of participating patients have not relapsed. Dr. Gold helps place those observations into scientific context while emphasizing the need for continued research.
The conversation also tackles one of the biggest questions surrounding GLP-1s: Should people stay on them long term? Dr. Gold offers a candid perspective on what researchers know, what they don’t know, and where the science is headed next.If you’re interested in addiction recovery, neuroscience, GLP-1 medications, cravings, and the future of addiction treatment, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the most promising developments in the field today.
If you’re interested in addiction recovery, neuroscience, GLP-1 medications, cravings, and the future of addiction treatment, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the most promising developments in the field today.#glp1 #addictionrecovery #ozempic #neuroscience #recovery #drmarkgold
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMark Gold· Guest0:00
The GLP-1s have a chance to have a revolutionary impact in addiction medicine, uh, because of their relationship to food, their relationship to addiction, and the fact that they not only are gut messengers, but they're brain messengers.
Speaker 20:16
[upbeat music] If someone has a problem with substance use disorder, please call One Call Placement. That's 888-831-1581, and if we can't help you, we'll make a referral to someone who can. Please, we're out of time. One Call Placement is affiliated with Carrera Treatment Wellness & Spa and One Method Treatment Centers.
Richard Taite· Host0:55
Today's guest is one of the true pioneers of addiction medicine, Dr. Mark Gold. He's a world-renowned physician, researcher, and educator whose work has helped shape the modern understanding of addiction for more than five decades. He is one of the most cited addiction scientists in the world, and has authored more than 1,000 scientific publications on addiction, cravings, and the neuroscience of recovery. Now, he's helping lead one of the most fascinating conversations happening