Published: January 5, 2026
Photo by Handy Wicaksono on Unsplash
By India McCarty
Dr. Drew Pinsky encourages Americans to rethink the way they approach addiction struggles.
“With addiction, you have to surrender,” the former radio personality told Fox News. “If you actually have [an] addiction, you have to be sure you’re ready, and then you have to surrender to some process.”
Pinsky mentioned the many programs that are available to help those battling addiction, adding, “If you merely surrender to that process and do what people tell you, follow direction, you will get better.”
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For those hoping to “reset” at the beginning of this year and start new patterns of behavior in January, Pinsky also had a message — addiction doesn’t follow a calendar.
“If you’re having to make deals with yourself because of your relationship with a substance, you have a problem,” he explained. “So, if you want a Dry January or Dry October or you just want to do a dopamine reset, there’s already a problem.”
Pinsky added, “I don’t adhere to New Year’s resolutions. I think they’re just a recipe for a letdown. I try to do things on a daily basis and not all of a sudden, because that’s not how people change. It really isn’t.”
“It can be useful from the standpoint of readiness,” he continued. “In other words, preparing yourself for change. If you’re going to make a big change in your life — whether it’s a diet or quitting smoking or stopping alcohol — you have to really be ready and make sure you’re ready. And if that’s New Year’s, and that’s the point you’re aiming toward, fine — but you’ve got to maintain it after that. It’s very, very important.”
Pinsky has previously stressed the importance of viewing addiction as a biological issue and not a moral failing, telling people to “let go of this moralizing model about substances.”
‘It’s the context and the relationship that humans have with chemicals that’s really an issue here. It’s not a good thing or a bad thing. It’s not a weak[ness] or a strength. It’s just a biological relationship that humans have in certain context,” he told CBS News.
In a recent interview with Woman’s World, Pinsky shared the misconception he would like to clear up about himself and his work.
“People misjudge me all the time,” he said. “They infer motivation, which is not there or character issues that are not there. I am just trying to do some good, and I use the juggernaut, that is media to do something worthwhile. I am grateful to have this creative outlet because I love dealing with audiences, public speaking and delivering information.”
As many people around the world prepare for fresh starts in 2026, Pinsky’s advice about battling addiction is a welcome reminder that you don’t have to wait for a new year to make a big change.
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