What is the VA CRAVE trial?
CRAVE — Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans — is a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development. It is testing whether weekly semaglutide injections reduce drinking in veterans with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder. It will enroll more than 600 veterans aged 18 to 80 across 18 VA medical centers. Participants receive semaglutide or placebo for 24 weeks, followed by a safety follow-up. Recruitment opened July 28, 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT07218354. VA study number CSP #2041.
VA safety statement on GLP-1 medications
“VA strongly discourages self-medicating or attempting to replace other AUD treatment options with GLP-1 medications or any other unprescribed substances. Evidence-based, proven treatments are available at VA facilities to support Veterans with AUD.”
Is semaglutide approved for alcohol use disorder?
No. Semaglutide is not FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder; it is approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management only.
- Semaglutide is NOT FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder. It is approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management only.
- There has been no newly FDA-approved medication for alcohol use disorder since 2006. Three medications are approved: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.
- A Phase 3 trial exists precisely because the answer is not yet known. Randomized placebo-controlled trials require clinical equipoise — documented genuine uncertainty about which arm is better.
Key facts
- More than 400,000 veterans in the VA system are diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
- Some estimates put alcohol use disorder at nearly 11% of US adults.
- The CRAVE trial is expected to conclude in spring 2027.
- Recruitment opened July 28, 2026 at 18 VA medical centers. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT07218354; VA study number CSP #2041.
Where to go for the real trial
The official record for CRAVE lives on ClinicalTrials.gov, and enrollment happens only through participating VA medical centers.