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Addiction Recovery
The Addiction Recovery Podcast is the ultimate destination for individuals battling addiction or supporting loved ones in their journey towards recovery. With a focus on providing informative, educational, and persuasive content, our podcast aims to engage and guide listeners towards healing and transformation.
Addiction Recovery
52: The Ozempic Effect--Could Weight-Loss Drugs Become a Tool for Recovery
Are weight loss medications changing addiction treatment? GLP-1 drugs and other medications are sparking a new conversation about their role in recovery.
In this episode, Steven T. Ginsburg breaks down one of sobriety’s most debated topics: when medication supports—not hinders—the path to recovery. He explains the key difference between mind-altering substances and medications like GLP-1 products, Vivitrol, Suboxone, and Naltrexone, which target cravings without creating new dependencies.
The discussion highlights a balanced perspective. For those facing severe, life-threatening addiction—especially chronic opioid users or relapsing alcoholics—medication-assisted programs can provide a critical bridge when paired with spiritual growth and 12-step work. As Ginsburg notes, true healing requires addressing both the biochemical and spiritual sides of addiction.
The takeaway: medication alone isn’t enough, but combined with sponsorship, service, and spiritual connection, it can be life-saving. And when worries about cost or career come up, Ginsburg reminds listeners: none of that matters if addiction takes a life.
Have questions about medication in sobriety? Email hello@restoredetoxcenters.com
. Whether for yourself or someone you love, this episode brings clarity to one of recovery’s most misunderstood topics.
Helpful Links:
Learn more about Restore Detox Centers
Filling the Void book by Steven T. Ginsburg
Overcoming the Fear and Lies of Addiction e-book
How to Love and Set Boundaries Without Enabling Addiction e-book
Call Us for Addiction Recovery: 1-800-982-5530
DISCLAIMER:
Welcome to the Addiction Recovery podcast, brought to you by Restore Detox Centers. We are dedicated to providing valuable and insightful information on addiction recovery. However, it is essential to understand that the content shared in this podcast is intended for educational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, we cannot guarantee its completeness or suitability for individual circumstances. The topics discussed in this podcast are based on general knowledge and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice or treatment.
It is important to note that the views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts, guests, or contributors are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of Restore Detox Centers. We strongly advise listeners to consult with qualified professionals, such as addiction counselors, therapists, or medical practitioners, before making any decisions or taking any actions based on the information provided in this podcast. Please be aware that listening to this podcast does not establish a client-provider relationship with Restore Detox Centers.
There won't be anything to worry about affording. There won't be any job to worry about losing, if any said individual dies at the hands of addiction and alcoholism.
Steve Coughran:This is the Addiction Recovery Podcast with Steven T Ginsburg, founder of Restore Detox Centers in sunny California. Enjoy your experience, steven. I want to talk about this weight loss drug trend that is sweeping the nation. There's GLP-1. I'm not familiar with this. I'm going to lean heavily on your expertise today, but ultimately, I want to learn about your stance on medication out there in the market. Let's begin with this weight loss drug phenomenon first.
Steven Ginsburg:Let's begin with this weight loss drug phenomenon first. Steve, thank you. It's always a pertinent, relevant topic and certainly lends itself to what we look at together when we support and enable the solution, but never the disease. First and foremost, one of the things that's very specific about in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is my secondary Bible, is we are not doctors. Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is my secondary Bible, is we are not doctors. So things that are properly and appropriately prescribed by doctors and then used as prescribed are not digressions nor transgressions of sobriety. Secondarily, it's interesting you bring this topic up.
Steven Ginsburg:There seems to be greater and greater merit to studies that are showing some of the GLP-1 products that are allowing people to have weight loss, that are allowing people to have the actual craving for food and sugar, et cetera to leave them, and that are also helping diabetics and pre-diabetics manage their blood sugar.
Steven Ginsburg:It seems to be having an effect on the craving phenomenon and some of the desire for drugs and alcohol.
Steven Ginsburg:So, first and foremost, I think there is merit for anyone who has a morbid obesity issue, who has a diabetes issue, who has a blood sugar, a pre-diabetic condition issue, and they are properly and appropriately prescribed a medication like this, I'm all in favor of it, the fact that there's more research that's lending itself to where it could fit into our actual lane, to where it could help people continue to have that sensation and that phenomenon of craving not be as present, much like medically assisted treatment programs.
Steven Ginsburg:I am in favor of that as well, because the alternative when it comes to the opiate addict, the alternative when it comes to the heroin addict, the alternative when it comes to that pill addict that's going to go to any means necessary to score those pills and then they run into fentanyl is too often death. So we are believers in things being appropriately taken, as described, and we are believers in the assistance and the help of medically assisted treatment, along with here's the diphthong, here's the payoff, along with the appropriate footwork, with meetings with a power greater than ourself, with step work, with service and with the ability to continue, a day at a time, to have total abstinence from any and all mind altering substances, I mean because basically this opens up a whole new frontier in addiction treatment.
Steve Coughran:When you're involving GLP-1, right.
Steven Ginsburg:It can, it absolutely could and, again, if the research shows that it helps, there's a very common drug out there Vivitrol. There's another common drug, suboxrol. There's another common drug, suboxone. There's another common drug, naltrexone. These are all anti-craving medications and if we have someone who's in peril, if we have someone whose life is at risk, if we have someone that that fire burns so intensely that, despite all the prescribed and described footwork, they need medically assisted treatment and support, we are in favor of that because, again, that beats the alternative. It beats the alternative of someone going to the street, having to score drugs, continuing their heroin use and eventually God forbid dying of an overdose.
Steve Coughran:Okay, hold on real quick, because my understanding is that all these things are drugs. Right, they're weight loss drugs. Technically they are. So I mean and we just did an episode last week we're talking about the California sober lifestyle where it's like, oh, I'm going to trade you know heroin and I'm going to do weed instead, or I'm going to take some mushrooms instead of, like, smoking crack or whatever it is. I mean, isn't this the same thing, though? You're just trading you know one drug for the next, and is there a risk that you could become addicted to these GLP-1 type drugs?
Steven Ginsburg:So thank you for the talking point. None of these substances that we are describing, whether it's Suboxone, whether it's Vivitrol, whether it's Naltrexan, whether it's any GLP-1 product, none of them are mind-altering in any way, shape or form. There's no hallucinatory effect, there's no elative effect, there's no depressant effect. It is literally something that works on the biomacular chemistry of one's body and the neurology of one's brain and again helps that person, that individual who's in peril, continue this trudge on that road of happy destiny, until they're able to continue to have that foothold and work the process of ongoing 12-step work in sobriety.
Steve Coughran:So that's the big difference. Okay, so you're listening to this. I want to hear what you think here. So if you are listening to this podcast on Spotify, down below in the episode, so go to Spotify. There's a box for comments. You can type in a comment right now. I want to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with this? What are your thoughts? Have you heard of GLP one? We just want to understand, like, what's trending out there in the world, and we want to hear your opinion, obviously because you're an important part of this community. Also, we always say this at the end, but I'm going to say it now. You can drop us an email right now too. If you're not listening on Spotify, hello at restoreddetoxcenterscom. You can email us your thoughts right this second. We definitely want to hear from you, okay, so let's continue on. Steven, so that's the big difference that you're saying. Instead of being mind altering like marijuana or mushrooms, these GLP one products they're not like addictive because they're non mind altering. Is that what you're saying?
Steven Ginsburg:Correct. They are attacking the synapses. That causes that heroin addict to want to score, that causes that alcoholic to want to drink. Now, here's where I'll straddle the fence and here's where I'll get chalk on my cleats, but not go out of bounds. If all you're going to do is medically assisted treatment and you're never going to sustain that with conception of a power greater than yourself, a sponsor with working, knowledge of the steps, going to meetings, working all 12 steps and then being of service If all you're going to do is medically assisted treatment, eventually at some point that addict or alcoholic will find a way to drink or drug around the very substance they're using and onboarding to physiologically cut down that synapse from firing and driving them towards using because they are an addict and alcoholic. It's that psychic change, it's that spiritual malady that is addressed through sobriety, that, in concert with these MAP programs, when needed, when prescribed, when viewed as warranted, because it's life and death, that's what collectively performs and brings the greater good for addicts and alcoholics who otherwise may well die.
Steve Coughran:Yeah, because I mean deeper down and tell me if you agree with this or disagree. Because I mean deeper down and tell me if you agree with this or disagree. When it comes to drug and alcohol abuse, do you think it goes deeper than just like a physical addiction? Call it, you know, like a spiritual, like you mentioned?
Steven Ginsburg:spiritual, like spiritual melody, melody yeah.
Steve Coughran:That's a better term. So if you only take care of the physical side, then what you're saying is that the spiritual side is still there, and that's maybe what's driving the addiction in the first place. I don't know if you call it the spiritual side or emotional side, or just the physiological side. I don't know what the exact term is, but what are your thoughts?
Steven Ginsburg:the terms are right. It's listen
Steven Ginsburg:After enough of a sustainable period where their lives start to come back together because they're not using, what they will start to do is neglect and negate the medication that they're taking and that will give them that desire to again seek out and then start to use the very drugs or the very substance that drove them into this situation where they needed that help in the first place.
Steven Ginsburg:That's why we've got to in cases like this again and I'm being very specific with my language on purpose, in cases where this is warranted chronic opiate user, chronic heroin user, things of that sort chronic, chronic, chronic lifetime relapsing alcoholic where we need to bridge that gap, it is using those remarkable medically assisted tools. Along with this proven program, 12-step programming is happening globally, is having a positive effect for millions and is bearing good results for millions globally. Those two remedies together make that perfect storm for ongoing sobriety. Many, many people who utilize the benefit and the blessing of a map program eventually, slowly but surely, taper off their map program because that cessation happens of the phenomenon of craving is gone and then they've taken care of their spiritual and emotional wellbeing and they go on to a lifetime, a day at a time of ongoing, uninterrupted sobriety.
Steve Coughran:Yeah, and that makes perfect sense and I like that. I like how that all flows together. So let me ask you this at the beginning, when I asked you what your stance is on medication, you said, look, I'm not a doctor. I want to hear about, like, your philosophy, especially at restored detox centers. Sure, somebody comes to you and says, hey, what do you recommend, steven? Should I do this or that? Is that where that comes in, like, hey, I'm not a doctor, and like, what's your whole stance on medication?
Steven Ginsburg:Thank you, that's exactly my stance. First of all, we have a remarkable we have a remarkable, remarkable and I'll emphasize, remarkable medical director who I love and trust and who is an empath. We're making treatment to support the 12-step work and the 12-step programming. We are in favor of that greatly because it beats the heck out of the alternative. The alternative is chronic relapse and too often chronic relapse can lead to the terrible end result of death in institutions and people who suffer from the disease that I suffer from.
Steve Coughran:Yeah, absolutely. So what if somebody is listening to this Stephen right now and they're thinking, wow, I really want to get sober, I want to get my life in order, but I don't know if I can afford recovery, I don't know if I can leave my job without getting fired and get sober. And what if they just feel stuck? What do you recommend?
Steven Ginsburg:next steps should be I just want to say this, first and foremost there won't be anything to worry about affording, there won't be any job to worry about losing, if any said individual dies at the hands of addiction and alcoholism.
Steven Ginsburg:And if you just look at the statistics, statistically more than two entire airplanes filled with no empty seats are what people are dying of drug and alcohol-related incidents on a daily basis. That's a lot of people in this, yes, sir, that's a lot of people in this nation dying every day. So there's nothing to worry about behind those type of results and those statistics. And then I will further say this companies that have employees, every single company that is an actual company has both an HR department and then has a medical leave that is accessible to any and every employee, no matter what position you hold. That is accessible to any and every employee, no matter what position you hold. And anyone who seeks treatment for the disease and it is classified as the disease of addiction and alcoholism can go on medical leave and their job is secure and go get the treatment they need and then return to work.
Steve Coughran:Okay, and if they want somebody to talk to, is Restore Detox Center a good place to start.
Steven Ginsburg:Listen, if anyone wants anyone to talk to about any of this, whether they never come near Restore or never speak on Restore or never look into Restore again, but anything involving recovery, sobriety, help, hope or a path to being liberated from this disease, we are available, I am available and we will always be available. And if I wasn't going to be available for that, I would no longer do these, these wonderful times and these podcasts with you and I would no longer continue to exercise my calling that Christ has equipped me for.
Steve Coughran:Amen, brother, I love it, I love your passion and I love your heart and how you're so willing to help, so many people out there.
Steven Ginsburg:Thank you so much, Steve. I so appreciate again the relevance and the poignancy. There is a real sense of urgency here and I want to say to anyone out there who's listening if you're suffering, if you're struggling, there is hope, there is a solution. The only thing that is hopeless is where addiction and alcoholism leaves you. You will leave your family without a dear loved one, you will leave your friends and community without someone in their community that they love and embrace and you leave yourself without the fulfillment that you are owed and that can be honored if you do your part in this life and this walk.
