New Telehealth Company Offers GLP-1s for Addiction

People struggling with addiction are getting access to a treatment that's showing real promise in early studies.

Quel, a new telemedicine company, launched yesterday as the first virtual healthcare service built specifically around using GLP-1 medications to treat addiction. The company is now operating in 41 states, bringing a treatment approach that was previously only available at exclusive rehabilitation centers to people across the country.

The service stems from pioneering work at Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, where physicians began testing whether drugs like semaglutide could help people overcome substance use disorders. Dr. Steven Klein, who led that effort and now serves as Quel's chief medical officer, saw patients respond to treatment in ways that surprised even experienced addiction specialists.

While the FDA hasn't officially approved GLP-1s for addiction treatment yet, doctors can prescribe them off-label. That's a common and legal practice when physicians see evidence that a medication could help their patients, even if it wasn't the drug's original purpose.

The timing couldn't be better. When Caron first started this work, only a handful of clinical trials existed testing GLP-1s for substance use. Now dozens of studies are underway, many focusing specifically on alcohol use disorder. The research is expanding quickly as scientists explore whether these medications might help with everything from opioid addiction to compulsive behaviors.

The Ripple Effect

Making this treatment available through telemedicine removes major barriers that often keep people from getting help. No one needs to travel to an expensive treatment center or take time off work for in-person appointments. Patients in rural areas with limited addiction services now have the same access as those in major cities.

The approach also tackles a reality that addiction specialists have long understood: addiction takes many forms. Quel's program addresses not just alcohol and drug use, but also issues like food addiction and compulsive behaviors. That comprehensive view recognizes that people often struggle with multiple overlapping challenges.

As more research results come in and more people gain access to these treatments, doctors will learn which patients benefit most and how to optimize care. Each person who gets help through services like Quel contributes to our growing understanding of how to treat addiction effectively.

A treatment that started as an experiment at one facility is now reaching thousands of people who need it.