[Por_sha911]

As Americans look for a fresh start in 2026, Dr. Drew Pinsky says the country’s approach to addiction is drifting further from what actually works.

Every January, many Americans look to reset their lives with enough discipline and a plan. For people who repeatedly promise themselves this will be the year they quit whatever they might be addicted to — and keep falling short — Dr. Drew said during an interview with Fox News Digital that the issue is often the belief that willpower alone is enough.

"With addiction, you have to surrender," he explained. "If you actually have addiction, you have to be sure you're ready, and then you have to surrender to some process."

"There are free programs out there… mutual-aid societies, or 12-step programs," Dr. Drew said. "If you merely surrender to that process and do what people tell you, follow direction, you will get better."

For many people, that foundation is essential. However, Dr. Drew suggested that others may also need additional help — and may lean toward therapy, medication or a medical evaluation.

The common thread, he said, is accepting help instead of trying to manage everything alone.

Meanwhile, at a time when Americans are encouraged to "reset" everything from their diets to their dopamine, Dr. Drew shared a warning: addiction doesn’t reset on a calendar.

With trendy resets like "Dry January" or "dopamine detoxes," the celebrity physician told Fox News Digital that although some Americans may see these practices as a responsible first step, they can also mask a much bigger problem.

"I want to point out that people have grave misconceptions about dopamine. You don't feel anything when your dopamine system is activated, except the desire to do that again," Dr. Drew explained to Fox News Digital. "It’s the ‘do that again’ system."

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/dr-drew-addicts-surrender-trendy-resets-mask-bigger-addiction-problems