We've recently read about the GLP-1 family of drugs helping some people overcome addictive compulsions of all kinds - tobacco, alcohol, even psychoactive drugs. A recent article in The Atlantic (April 5 2026) described people who find that they have lost all their strong emotions, including marital love.
"Many people taking GLP-1 medications find that they’ve suddenly released their desires for food, alcohol, tobacco, shopping, and more"
What if a drug was developed that would eliminate the yetzer hara for any particular aveira. Would it be advisable to take such a drug? Would there be a religious imperative to take such a drug?
Man was created imperfect in order that he should fight to overcome his yetzer hara. It could be that winning that war through medical intervention undermines the reason for the creation of man. It could be that taking such a drug is a stira to the retzon Hashem.
It goes without saying that regarding בין אדם לחבירו, for any aveira that harms society in a perceptible manner, preventing harm to others is paramount. But for עבריות בין אדם למקום, where the harm is distancing the universe from the Ribono shel Olam, the Nefesh Hachaim's idea of the consequence of aveiros, perhaps the theoretical disobedience to the tafkid of man is a greater sin than the failure to overcome the yetzer hara.
I am told that in the Gerrer community, unmarried boys regularly take something in the libido reduction family, in order to temper their taivos until they are safely married. I have no way of knowing whether this is true, nor does their shittah help me to resolve the question in my own mind.
The first place to look would be the Gemara in Yoma 69b regarding the yetzer of Avoda Zara. But in that case, the yetzer posed a threat to the continuity of Klal Yisrael. The following Gemara, about the yetzer of arayos, might be more relevant.
Does the answer depend on whether you eliminate the taava or merely temper it? The Rambam in the Moreh says sees this in the Mitzva of Milah. The Chinuch says a very different Taam.
I spoke about this with my family. The women, to a person, (including those who have made a serious study of such matters of hashkafa,) strongly asserted that such a drug would be a wonderful thing; that aveiros are wicked and harmful and should be avoided by any means possible, whether by strength of will or by taking a drug; that all we are required to do is to win the battle, and any action we take to do so is not only meritorious but even mandatory. The men, including people who know the great sifrei mussar literally baal peh word for word, were not sure. I know when I am not entitled to an opinion, and this is a good example.
What do you say?
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