Dating might be a relatively lost art on large college campuses. That’s the opinion of Dr. Drew Pinsky, who says that art needs to be rediscovered — for the health of everyone.
Pinsky, the host of the nationally syndicated radio call-in program “Loveline” and star of the VH-1 reality show “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” spoke about addiction and alcoholism in front of about 900 people — ranging from college students to senior citizens — Saturday night at the Robert and Ruth Kehl Center at Clarke College.
In an interview before the presentation, Pinksy said binge drinking, in his opinion, is the big issue on many college campuses. It correlates with what he termed the abnormal interpersonal — or “hook-up” — culture on large campuses.
“The hook-up culture has been positively institutionalized on campuses,” he said. “The cornerstone of boy-girl social life is to go out and have random physical encounters. It may not be for small schools — like Clarke — but at big institutions where I normally speak at.”
Pinsky cited an Independent Women’s Forum study that looked at college-age women.
“They were mostly unhappy,” he said.
On the campus, Pinsky asks why are they drinking. “And almost without exception, in about a minute someone will say, ‘Well, really, to make sure I don’t have any feelings about what is happening to me,’ medicating my basic instincts as a human being.”
At that point, he asks, “‘Isn’t that sad; if I had infinitive powers, and I could create a social construct that was more suitable for you as a young woman, what would that be?’
“Three minutes go by and finally a brave soul raises their hand. A girl will say, ‘I just wish somebody would just talk to me, have a conversation.’ I go, ‘What if he called you up, and talked to you again, had a meal with you and talked to you during the meal?’
“They say, ‘Oh my God, that would be incredible! I mean, like on what planet does that happen?'”
Pinsky points out, “That’s a date, what we used to call a date. Learn how to date.”
He then embarks on a long discussion about why that’s a healthier option, and how that might reduce binge alcohol use.
Pinsky talked about alcoholism, which is biological, a disease where an individual loses control of their relationship with alcohol and other substances.
“I’ve treated about 12,000 addicts in my career,” he said. “I can only think of five that I couldn’t see a direct genetic link. In its definition: genetic disorder with a biological basis.”
