Dr. Drew talks alcohol, sex at MU

The famous doctor focused on students following their intuition.

By Kelsey MacDonald

Published April 2, 2009

The auditorium was abuzz with chatter about relationships, sex and psychology Wednesday night as Dr. Drew Pinsky spoke at MU.

Whispers of the controversial topics could be heard all around Jesse Auditorium, where audience members were able to have a conversation with the famed Pinsky at an event sponsored by Missouri Students Association, the Graduate Professional Council and the Department of Student Activities.

Pinsky unwittingly began his media career on a radio talk show called "Ask a Surgeon" while he was still in medical school. For someone who had no interest in radio or television, Pinsky has made a successful career out of entertainment news.

Later on, "Ask a Surgeon" combined with "Loveline" and skyrocketed Pinsky to fame under the name Dr. Drew, as he is now commonly known. He has since appeared on "The Today Show," "The View," "The Tyra Banks Show," and countless other talk shows. He hosts "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" and its spinoff "Sober House" on VH1, "Sex...with Mom and Dad" on MTV and has numerous other series on the Discovery Health Channel.

Pinsky's main interest lies in the college-age demographic.

"I was one of them when I started," he said. "So it was sort of serendipity."

Ben Hansen, of the DSA Speakers Committee, said the groups brought Pinsky to MU after claims that it is a large party school.

"There is a lot of publicity that tries to hide those facts," Hansen said. "Even if it isn't a major problem, it is a problem on most college campuses."

The organizations' goal was to encourage students to think before they act, and to shed light on how binge drinking and alcohol use can affect relationships. Pinsky encouraged all students who may be suffering from relationship or addiction problems to utilize the mental health services on campus.

Pinsky said there are just three unfortunate options for college students in regards to relationships: hook-ups, joined-at-the-hip relationships and friends with benefits. Those relationships are perceived differently according to gender.

"We are never further apart biologically as men and women than we are right at your age," he said to students. "Friends with benefits looks good on paper, but so does communism."

He discouraged hook-ups, saying they are shrouded with mystery and somebody always gets hurt. He also disagreed with college couples that are joined at the hip, as their lives are quickly consumed by one another.

Junior Brittany Petersen took advantage of the interactive setting.

"I'm in competition with the hos," she said. "I'm not going to compete with them, but I want some, too."

This was met with roars of laughter and applause. Pinsky's open forum style allowed for students to be frank, while expecting a non-judgmental -- if not slightly sardonic -- response from the doctor.

He asked the audience why they felt they must be drunk in order to hook up with someone. The most common answer was comfort brought on by a release of inhibitions. Although Pinsky understands the psychology of it, he does not condone it and encouraged students to seek healthy, conversation-filled relationships.

Pinsky also talked about listening to intuition. In his early radio days, he observed there was no public conversation about sex and decided it was an issue that needed to be rectified.

"I had an instinct that it was an important thing to do," Pinsky said. "Trust your instincts, especially as young people."