2008 Woodie Awards
'Loveline' doctor speaks to USC about addiction
Sherry Anne Rubiano--Daily Trojan (U. Southern California)
Issue date: 10/8/03 Section: News
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(U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES - Drugs and alcohol are two of the main health issues facing college students today, Dr. Drew Pinsky, co-host of the popular call-in radio show "Loveline," said in a recent interview.
Pinsky, who is also the programming director of chemical dependency services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., said that he is concerned about the use of hard drugs on college campuses.
"A drug that is waning, thankfully, is Ecstasy and LSD," said Pinsky, who spoke at the fifth annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Health and Fitness on Saturday, which was held at the University of Southern California.
"(They) concern me the most."
This age group also faces two other health issues: mental and reproductive health, Pinsky said.
Finding ways to organize their social lives is another important topic for college-age students.
"Why do you have to be loaded to hook up?" he said.
When he visits college campuses, Pinsky said he receives the same responses after asking his question. The men usually say they do it because it's cool; and because the women find this loaded behavior intolerable, they themselves get loaded in order to tolerate it.
Pinsky makes about 12 appearances at college campuses each year to discuss health concerns for students.
During his USC visit, he focused on the biological and psychological reasons for drug and alcohol addiction.
"Personal changes are profoundly complex," said Pinsky, an addiction medicine specialist. "I love addiction. I get to see that play out in a very vivid way."
Pinsky spoke about addiction at the health festival partly to promote his book, "Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again."
The combination of a person's environment and genetics causes addiction, Pinsky said.
"Addiction is a disorder in the motivational (portion) of the brain," Pinsky said to about 50 fans, recovering addicts and curious audience members.
Research shows that when people take drugs, a reaction occurs that alters the cells in the part of the brain that controls survival mechanisms, Pinsky said. A person's drive system permanently changes, and this leads to heightened levels of drive and mood instability that overwhelm a person, he said.
Pinsky, who is also the programming director of chemical dependency services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., said that he is concerned about the use of hard drugs on college campuses.
"A drug that is waning, thankfully, is Ecstasy and LSD," said Pinsky, who spoke at the fifth annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Health and Fitness on Saturday, which was held at the University of Southern California.
"(They) concern me the most."
This age group also faces two other health issues: mental and reproductive health, Pinsky said.
Finding ways to organize their social lives is another important topic for college-age students.
"Why do you have to be loaded to hook up?" he said.
When he visits college campuses, Pinsky said he receives the same responses after asking his question. The men usually say they do it because it's cool; and because the women find this loaded behavior intolerable, they themselves get loaded in order to tolerate it.
Pinsky makes about 12 appearances at college campuses each year to discuss health concerns for students.
During his USC visit, he focused on the biological and psychological reasons for drug and alcohol addiction.
"Personal changes are profoundly complex," said Pinsky, an addiction medicine specialist. "I love addiction. I get to see that play out in a very vivid way."
Pinsky spoke about addiction at the health festival partly to promote his book, "Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again."
The combination of a person's environment and genetics causes addiction, Pinsky said.
"Addiction is a disorder in the motivational (portion) of the brain," Pinsky said to about 50 fans, recovering addicts and curious audience members.
Research shows that when people take drugs, a reaction occurs that alters the cells in the part of the brain that controls survival mechanisms, Pinsky said. A person's drive system permanently changes, and this leads to heightened levels of drive and mood instability that overwhelm a person, he said.