Sunnyside Adds GLP-1 Options to Its Medication Program for Alcohol Use Disorder, After Treating More Than 15,000 People in 18 Months

Two new programs pair semaglutide with continuous personalized support, expanding access to an innovative new treatment option for reducing heavy drinking as clinical evidence builds.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunnyside, the Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment and prevention company whose Sunnyside Med program has delivered medication and wraparound care to more than 15,000 people since launch in mid-2025, today launched two new programs that pair semaglutide, a GLP-1 medication, with naltrexone, a medication FDA-approved for alcohol dependence since 1994, as an innovative new option for adults who want to drink less or quit. Both programs pair medication with Sunnyside's proven support program, which combines app-based tools and AI-driven personalization with a layered human support system integrating peer connection, coaches, care coordinators and licensed clinicians.

For too long, treatment for AUD has been stuck in the past, leaving millions to struggle on their own. Despite immense evidence of their efficacy and safety, medications for treating alcohol dependence remain dramatically under-utilized. An estimated 27.1 million U.S. adults had alcohol use disorder in 2024, yet only 2.4% received medication for it, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Treatment, if accessed at all, is reactive and crisis driven, typically initiated 8 to 10 years after the onset of dependent drinking behavior. And when medication is prescribed, most people stop taking it prematurely. In a 2024 study, only one in four people starting oral naltrexone refilled their prescription by day 90, a 75% drop off rate in just 3 months.

Sunnyside Med was built to close these gaps. The program is designed for prevention and early intervention, with medication prescribed as a first-line treatment, rather than a last resort as is typical today. What sets Sunnyside Med apart is the program built around the medication, which is designed to increase long-term adherence and improve outcomes. In Sunnyside Med's naltrexone program, members refill their prescriptions at day 90 at 1.5 times the rate of the published clinical benchmark cited above, and 88% of active participants had fewer heavy-drinking days by week 12. Sunnyside is building on these outcomes from its naltrexone program as it launches its GLP-1 offerings, providing a best-in-class medication companion experience from day one.

"Since the launch of Sunnyside Med 18 months ago, we've seen an explosion in demand for medication assisted treatment options among individuals looking to change their relationship with alcohol," said Nick Allen, Sunnyside's co-founder and CEO. "It's clear that medication can quiet the urge to drink in the moment, but it won't change the ingrained habits around drinking on its own. The support we've built around the medication is why people choose Sunnyside, and it's what will set us apart as we add access to GLP-1s."

Sunnyside is betting that the GLP-1 medication class, paired with its modern care protocol, holds the key to bringing medication assisted treatment for AUD to the forefront of the treatment landscape. GLP-1s revolutionized metabolic care by giving millions a tool beyond willpower to manage their weight. AUD appears to be on the same trajectory, as convincing evidence emerges about GLP-1 effectiveness in reducing heavy drinking. In a landmark clinical trial published in The Lancet in 2026, adults with Alcohol Use Disorder and obesity who received weekly semaglutide alongside therapy cut their share of heavy-drinking days by 41 percentage points over 26 weeks, compared with 26 points for therapy alone; a 58% improvement attributable to the medication. Additional studies and EMR analyses support these findings, and Eli Lilly has begun Phase 3 trials testing a next-generation GLP-1-class medication specifically for alcohol dependence.

"Early evidence surrounding GLP-1 efficacy for reducing heavy drinking is promising, especially in people with obesity," said Dr. Hrishikesh Belani, Primary Care Physician with a focus on Substance Use Disorders and member of Sunnyside's Clinical Advisory Board. "Alcohol treatment providers are starting to prescribe GLP-1 off-label. As with all medications targeting heavy alcohol use, the key to achieving lasting outcomes is ongoing support around the medication. This is where Sunnyside Med excels."

Sunnyside Med's GLP-1 + Naltrexone Microdose Program costs $199 a month, and the GLP-1 + Naltrexone Full Dose Program costs $299 a month, plus a one-time $50 intake fee, with specific BMI requirements for each program. Medication is shipped as an 84-day supply, and members check in with a provider before each refill shipment. Sunnyside Med's naltrexone-only program is still available at $99 a month. Insurance isn't required. Both new programs are available now, in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., at https://www.sunnyside.co/glp1.

Semaglutide is not FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder. Medications offered through Sunnyside Med are compounded by licensed pharmacies in the U.S. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved; FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality. Published semaglutide studies did not test Sunnyside's formulation or this medication pairing. Prescriptions are issued only when a licensed Sunnyside Med care provider deems them appropriate. Full safety information can be found at https://www.sunnyside.co/glp1.

Sunnyside data: The 88% finding comes from an internal observational analysis of 849 naltrexone-program members who reported heavy-drinking days at intake and tracked their alcohol consumption in the Sunnyside app at least four days per week, comparing intake with weeks 8–12 and defining heavy-drinking days as days with five or more drinks.

Sources: NIAAA's Alcohol Treatment in the United States (2024 NSDUH estimates); Hasin et al., Archives of General Psychiatry (2007; treatment-delay findings from the 2001–2002 NESARC); and Klausen et al., The Lancet (2026), doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00305-3.

About Sunnyside

Sunnyside is an alcohol health company on a mission to change the way the world drinks. Since 2020, its app, coaching and community have helped more than 600,000 people on the path to a healthier relationship with alcohol. Sunnyside Med, launched in 2025, adds clinician-prescribed medication to that foundation for people who want to drink less or quit. Learn more at sunnyside.co.

Media Contact: Nick Allen, [email protected], 415-710-5364

SOURCE Sunnyside