GLP-1 drugs may weaken impulsivity-violence link, study finds

A new study suggests GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, may weaken the link between impulsivity, alcohol use, and violence, potentially offering a new tool to reduce gun violence. The findings, published in the journal Criminology, are preliminary and do not prove the drugs directly cause reduced aggression. Researchers analyzed survey data from 7,521 U.S. adults, including 597 current and 224 former GLP-1 users. They found the association between impulsivity and violence was 62% weaker among current users, and the link between alcohol and violence was 52% weaker, compared to former users. The impulsivity finding was more robust, while the alcohol result was less stable. Experts caution that the study cannot establish causation, as it captured behavior at a single point in time. Future research using more rigorous methods, such as randomized controlled trials, is needed. Researchers also note that poverty and inequality remain central drivers of violence, and medication should not be seen as a sole solution.