The sexual addictions of the rich and famous often seem like an excuse for their use and abuse of celebrity, says anna coogan, but with easy access to explicit pornography on the internet, it is likely to become a problem that cannot be dismissed for a growing number of young people
Dismiss sex addiction as an excuse for weak behaviour, and you're ignoring an "explosive sexual health issue" heading our way, warns a leading sex-addiction expert.
"Sex addiction might be used as an excuse by a man who has multiple sexual partners," says JC Durbin, CEO of the Wicklow-based addiction treatment centre Toranfield House. "It might also be seen as a titillating subject. Yet there's nothing titillating about a man who continuously has unprotected sex with prostitutes who may have sexually transmitted diseases, and then goes home and has sex with his wife," says the addiction counsellor.
"There's nothing titillating about the compulsive masturbator, who masturbates up to 15 times a day, and whose life is spiralling out of control because of his compulsive behaviour," says Durbin.
The subject of sex addiction is back in the news, thanks to the film Shame, which stars Kerry-reared actor Michael Fassbender, and tells the story of a thirtysomething sex addict whose life is run on his need for sexual encounters.