GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are known for treating diabetes and weight loss, but they may also reduce alcohol and opioid cravings. This could revolutionize addiction treatment—if history doesn’t repeat itself. Naltrexone, a safe, effective medication for alcohol use disorder, was approved in 1994 but never gained traction. It's time to raise awareness and give these medications the attention patients deserve.

In response to HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy's renewal of the opioid public health emergency, Percy Menzies highlights key progress—and urges a bold next step: expanding access to naltrexone. With overdose deaths still claiming 150 lives a day, now is the time for practical, cost-effective solutions that build on what works.

Stigma keeps many from seeking help for substance use—and current treatment approaches may unintentionally fuel it. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine carry stigma due to their opioid nature and tight restrictions. It’s time to rethink treatment by investing in non-addictive, non-abusable options. Real change starts with real alternatives—and that’s how we begin to dismantle stigma for good.

Percy Menzies response to article on MedicalExpress.com :   Fentanyl vaccine heads for clinical trials, with goal of saving lives (...