Episode 1614 • • 1:06:47 - 1:17:58
1614: Blinking Red Lights
ABC News Promotes Ozempic for Alcoholism and Maintenance
ABC's Good Morning America featured a segment promoting the use of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), citing a small case study of six people. Dr. Jen Ashton described obesity as a "chronic condition" requiring lifelong "maintenance plans," suggesting patients may need the injections indefinitely to prevent weight regain. Critics characterized the coverage as a "native ad" for pharmaceutical companies seeking to expand the drug's approved uses and insurance coverage.