Sex addiction is an obsession with sex. Sexual thoughts tend to occupy a sex addict’s consciousness and the addict exhibits distorted sexual thinking. Sex addiction can be considered a disorder characterized by compulsive sexual thoughts and acts and similar to all addictions, the disorder will progress. Sex addiction is also associated with risk-taking in various forms of sexual activity, regardless of the dangerous consequences. Sex addiction can damage relationships, work and social life, and in some cases it may involve illegal activities.

The sex addict’s daily activity often consists of compulsive masturbation or the extensive use of pornography. Sex addiction can involve exhibitionism, voyeurism, obscene phone calls, child molestation or rape. It has been estimated that 75% of convicted child molesters are sex addicts.

The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity’s definition of sex addiction is “engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others.” That definition sums up the conclusion that sex addicts persist in certain sexual behaviors despite the possibility of health risks, financial problems, shattered relationships and arrest. Sex addiction can also involve searching for multiple partners or an unnatural fixation on unattainable partners.

The obsessive compulsive behaviors that characterize addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling are also present in sex addiction. Unfortunately, our current technological society has created a situation where more people are engaging in phone sex, escort services and online pornography every day. While we can live normal lives without gambling, drugs or alcohol, sex is different. Sex is part of human natural life and as such, becomes a very complex problem to solve when it comes to addiction.

Although some people may choose to be celibate or their celibacy may stem from cultural or religious reasons, the human race does have a strong natural desire for sex and a chronic lack of interest in sex can also be a medical or psychiatric problem!

Drug addiction is a complex brain disease both created by and characterized by a dependence on drugs or medications. Compulsive behavior associated with drug addiction includes uncontrollable drug use that persists even when extremely negative consequences result. It is well-known that drug addiction often causes serious, long-term mental and physical health problems as well as problems with relationships, employers and law enforcement.

Drug addicts are not able to control their drug use and will continue using a drug regardless of the damage their habit may cause. Drug addicts usually have intense cravings, and despite desires to quit, they find they cannot stop alone. Obviously not everyone who takes drugs becomes addicted, but casual drug use is often the start of drug addiction. Overcoming a drug habit can require inpatient treatment in a hospital along with counseling and support from family, friends and professionals.

Part of the disease of drug addiction is that in time the behavior of seeking and taking a drug becomes compulsive. Long term use leads to permanent effects on brain function and results in persistent addiction that is difficult to treat and may return even after prolonged periods of abstinence.

Although different drugs have different effects, most drug habits involve repeated and excessive use of substances to yield a desired effect. Illegal street drugs have a high potential for addiction and are the most commonly abused substances that result in addiction. Prescription drugs abused for pleasurable effects instead of valid medical purposes also present a huge addiction problem today.

Most addiction behavior involves constant overuse and overstimulation of certain areas of the brain. The addiction means the chemistry of the brain has changed and now requires on a constant supply of the drug. The obsessive urge to use the drug quickly becomes the most powerful force in an addict’s life, disrupting relationships, jobs and health. Sudden removal of the drug results in extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and in serious cases can cause seizures or death.

Some addicts prefer stimulant drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine that produce intense feelings of energy. Others may prefer sedative/narcotic drugs like heroin, benzodiazepines (Valium) or other prescription tranquilizers that produce feelings of extreme relaxation. Prescription drugs can be just as addictive as street drugs. The abuse of prescription drugs presents unique prevention problems due to their often easy access for friends and family members.

Because drug use makes fundamental changes within the brain, a person can start the slide into drug addiction without realizing it and it may only take a few incidents of exposure to a drug to become addicted. A person’s inability to get relief from mental or physical pain, stress, loneliness and depression, can make drugs look like an attractive way to deal with the problem despite the negative consequences of addiction. Without proper treatment and support, drug addicts are in danger of losing their homes, families, jobs and even their lives.

The basic definition of alcohol addiction is a compulsive need for the intoxicating liquid spirits that are obtained from fermenting grain or fruit. Alcoholic liquids usually come in the form of beers, wines, and spirits. Addiction to alcohol, or alcoholism, is considered present when a person cannot limit their drinking and experiences withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and anxiety when alcohol consumption has stopped.

Alcohol addiction and alcoholism is far more complex than simple being a matter of whether or not a person has the will to stop drinking. Alcohol addiction will almost always overwhelm a person’s ability to stop drinking on their own. Assistance and support from family, friends and professionals are often required to help the addict stop drinking. Success over alcohol addiction is not guaranteed, and there are many who seem unable to stop drinking regardless of the level of support they receive.

Alcohol is legally sold in every state in the nation and 9 out of 10 people do not become addicted after drinking. What then, is the point at which alcohol consumption becomes alcohol addiction? The National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAA) defines alcohol dependence as a condition that is characterized by “impaired control over drinking, compulsive drinking, preoccupation with drinking, tolerance to alcohol, and/or withdrawal symptoms.” Once the drinking becomes characterized by “by failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home, interpersonal social and legal problems, and/or drinking in hazardous situations,” the NIAA definition becomes alcohol abuse and that alcohol abuse is caused by alcohol addiction.
Surveys have indicated that as population increases, so do the percentage of those addicted to alcohol. However, current epidemiological studies show that the percentage of drinkers in the population with alcohol-related problems has almost doubled over the last two decades.

Young adults aged 18 to 30 are the heaviest drinkers in the population and nearly 12 percent of those young adults will exhibit alcohol dependence during their lifetimes. The numbers climb even higher for minority adults with blacks, Asians and Hispanics experiencing significantly higher percentages of alcohol dependence in the last five years.

Because alcohol dependence is highest among young adults, it demonstrates the need for more research on drinking patterns and especially those that begin in adolescence. Alcohol addiction is involved in 50% of all crimes, murders, accidental deaths, and suicides. Alcohol addiction is also associated with many serious health problems such as brain damage, cancer, heart disease, and liver disease and most addicts experience reduced life expectancy by up to 15 years. The cost of alcohol addiction for individuals, families and society overall, is simply too high to ignore.

Since drinking alcohol is such a common element of our society, the abuse can creep up on you, making it hard to see when drinking has become a problem. It is important to be aware of the effects of alcohol and the signs of a drinking problem before you or a loved one falls into full-blown alcohol addiction. The side effects of alcohol vary so widely from person to person, it can be hard to figure out where social drinking stops and problem drinking begins.

Some people can drink responsibly, while others lose their health, their family, and their jobs if they drink. Genetics, family, social environment, and overall emotional health can all play a part on what the effects of alcohol will be. Alcohol abuse can affect all aspects of life and if drinking is causing problems in your life, you might have a drinking problem.

Alcohol can cause serious health complications, and damage your mental stability, your finances, your job, and the ability to maintain satisfying relationships. Alcoholism will undoubtedly have a negative impact on your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your community. Alcoholics get divorced more often, have more problems with domestic violence, lose more jobs, and live in poverty far more often than non-drinkers. The strain placed on close relatives and friends of an alcohol addict can be especially traumatic and damaging. Pretending nothing is wrong and covering for the person with the drinking problem can take an enormous toll on people and relationships.

The path from casual alcohol use to alcohol addiction is usually a gradual progression and those who drink a little each day are at the most risk of developing alcoholism. Drinking every day can promote physical dependence and when a person needs alcohol to function or they feel compelled to drink, they have an addiction problem developing. Unfortunately, most addicts will step up their denial of the facts as their drinking gets worse, and rationalizing their drinking is often the biggest single obstacle to getting help for their alcohol addiction. Most addiction professionals agree there is a difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction as abusers can set some limits and still control their drinking to some degree. Given enough time, however, most alcohol abusers will lose the ability to control their drinking.

Common social side effects of alcohol abuse prior to full-blown addiction:

* Lie to cover drinking
* Always feel better after a drink
* Always drink more than planned
* Neglect responsibilities at home, work, or school
* Drinking and driving
* Legal problems from drinking
* Can’t have “just one drink.”
* Continue drinking even after problems arise

After a period of prolonged alcohol abuse, addiction can develop in subtle ways. The effects of alcohol abuse are all magnified by alcohol addiction and every aspect of the addict’s life can get worse. In addition to increasing physical and emotional problems, the alcohol addict will also notice that they have developed a tolerance and need to drink ever-increasing amounts of alcohol to satisfy their cravings. Tolerance is one of the first warning signs of alcohol addiction and the ability to drink twice as much as your friends is not a good thing when it comes to the spirits. The tolerance for alcohol is usually accompanied by a loss of control over drinking in general. Addicts want to quit but they can’t, they devote most of their time to maintaining their habit, and they continue to drink even though it is causing problems.

The second major warning sign of an addiction to alcohol is the presence of withdrawal symptoms. After a person has been drinking heavily for a long time the body becomes adjusted to it and will exhibit problems if drinking stops. Unfortunately, the only temporary “fix” is more alcohol.

Blood Alcohol level & Effects

0-0.5
Blood vessels dilate. Warm sensation. Sensory Perception of taste, smell, vision and pain reduced.

0.5-1.5
Mood and behavior changes. Sensory perceptions further reduced. Short term memory decreases. Judgment impaired. Reaction speeds reduced. Muscle coordination reduced.

1.5-3.0
Exaggeration of prior effects. Emotional mood swings. Red skin. Dilated pupils. Nausea and vomiting may be present.

3-4.0
Sensory perception numbed. Mental confusion. Total loss of coordination. Speech slurred.

4.0 +
Risk of alcohol poisoning and unconsciousness. Coma, heart attack and respiratory arrest may be present. Medical attention required.

Physical side effects from alcohol withdrawal can include:

* Anxiety
* Nausea and vomiting
* Shakiness
* Trembling
* Headache
* Sweating
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Fatigue
* Loss of appetite

The effects of alcohol addiction can be life threatening. In the most severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can cause hallucinations and seizures. Alcohol is a type of a drug, and alcohol addiction is just as dangerous as any drug addiction. Alcohol addiction causes permanent changes in the body and brain, and can be fatal if left untreated. Help is available.

It’s no secret that long-term alcohol use is both physically and mentally destructive. People who drink for years obviously risk physical damage to the organs used for the absorption and digestion of alcohol. Alcohol permanently destroys brain cells, causes brain damage and disrupts the function of the central nervous system. An alcoholic brain can have difficulty retrieving, consolidating, and processing simple information.

In addition to the deleterious effects on the brain, alcohol also impacts the stomach, liver, pancreas, and the whole digestive system. Alcohol can cause fatty degeneration of the liver, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Alcohol addiction also causes cirrhosis (an incurable disease), gastritis and inflammation of the pancreas. Gastritis causes stomach bleeding and inflammation of the pancreas can inhibit absorption of nutrients, resulting in serious weight loss.

The damage to the liver first occurs as enlargement when the liver cells become loaded with fatty tissue. As alcoholic hepatitis sets in, liver cells die off. Finally, cirrhosis occurs and the liver is permanently scarred and impaired. If total liver function is impaired, death will follow.

There is also a strong relationship between alcohol addiction and cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus, especially with smokers. Alcohol addicts get more cancers of the liver and large intestine and women alcoholics are more prone to develop breast cancers. The entire list of disorders that could be caused by alcohol use would be too long to list here, but it would be safe to say that the long-term effects of alcohol can easily reduce an addict’s lifespan by 10 to 15 years overall.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Addiction:

Brain damage
Liver disease
Heart disease
Cancer
Pancreatitis
Alcohol-related birth defects
Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Central nervous system damage
Reduced cognitive abilities
Inflammation of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach
Irregular heartbeat
High-blood pressure
Heart attack
Vision damage
Impaired sexual function
Impaired circulation
Excessive water retention
Skin disorders
Weakened bones
Degenerated muscle tissue
Decreased immunity

Detox

There have been many different approaches to the treatment of alcohol addiction, but before any type of real treatment can begin, the addict must first be detoxified. Alcohol detoxification is almost always performed with the supervision of a medical doctor and is usually the first part of most treatment programs. Detoxification allows the body to rid itself of alcohol and prepares the addict for treatment.

Behavioral Treatments

The three main types of behavioral treatments for alcohol addiction have been Alcoholics Anonymous, Motivation Enhancement Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Studies from The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have determined that all three of these behavioral treatment therapies are able to help addicts reduce their drinking. The Institute also found that behavioral treatment approaches generally worked well for at least one year.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an anonymous mutual support program based on a 12-step program of recovery. The support provided in the anonymous meetings has proven to be an effective therapeutic program, but most people find that AA is most effective when combined with some form of psychotherapeutic care as well. Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a therapy approach that uses motivational strategies to strengthen the addict’s personal responsibility for positive change and improvement in his life without alcohol. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is based on emotional responses to change drinking behaviors and tries to replace them with more positive ways of feeling and reacting.

Therapeutic Medications

A few therapeutic medications have been developed to help combat alcohol addiction. These are prescription-only drugs that are usually administered in conjunction with other therapies. Naltrexone and disulfiram (Antabuse) were both developed to help prevent addicts from drinking after a period of sobriety. Antabuse is a deterrent drug that causes vomiting and nausea if alcohol is ingested. Naltrexone is a “reward” drug that reduces the craving the client has for alcohol in the first place. Therapeutic medications do not work alone, and are most effective when used in conjunction with other forms of therapy.

Counseling

Counseling is a key component in almost every alcohol treatment process. The process of recovery is directly coupled to the support an addict receives, and both peer and professional counseling have been shown to be effective tools to help addicts learn to cope with their feelings and develop life strategies that do not include alcohol. Counseling therapies can be offered on both inpatient and outpatient basis and may also offer the addict help with community resources like job training, legal assistance, and financial management.

Recently there have also been some alternative treatment approaches becoming more widely used. Holistic and naturalistic approaches along with various vitamin and supplement therapies have been used to treat alcohol abuse. However, more research is needed before their effectiveness can be determined.
Obviously, there are different rates of success for different therapies and some people remain sober and some do not. Some people cannot abstain from alcohol regardless of the treatment they receive. However, if any type of treatment helps an addict stay away from alcohol, it is a good treatment.

There has never been an official diagnosis for the effects of sex addiction, but researchers have defined the disorder based on the behaviors associated with sexual addiction as a preoccupation with sex, a persistent craving for sex and the unsuccessful ability to limit sexual activity. Engaging in sex acts with multiple partners, or more than were originally intended and engaging in excessive sexual practices despite a person’s desire to stop are also common effects.

Sex addicts may allocate most of their free time to activities related to sex, like cruising for new partners or visiting online pornographic sites. Sex addicts will neglect work, school and family in order to engage in sexual behavior despite broken relationships, potential health risks and other negative results. Sex addicts organize their world around sex with the goal of interacting with people and social situations for the express purpose of obtaining sex. They may feel irritable when they are unable to engage in their desired sexual behavior and may exhibit violence when denied in extreme cases.

Effects of a developing sex addiction may include:

* General preoccupation with sex
* Obsession with sexually explicit magazines
* You feel your own sexual behavior is abnormal
* You feel guilty about your own sexual behavior
* Your spouse complains about your sexual behavior
* You hide your true sexual desires
* Your sex behavior interferes with your family
* You been unable to stop your compulsive sexual behavior

Different drugs may have different side effects on overall physical and mental health, but the overall basic behavior pattern is often the same regardless of the particular substance that is being abused. The biggest side effect may be that the act of obtaining and using the drug becomes the most important thing in an addict’s life, more important than family, friends, career and religion. Drug addicts are often physical and emotional wrecks as a consequence of their lifestyle and habit. A full-blow drug addiction makes it almost impossible to function normally. An addict’s reasoning and judgment can be so impaired from the side effects of their addiction that they are a danger themselves and others, making them very difficult to approach on the subject of treatment.

Drug abuse affects the brain and body directly and the effects of abuse and addiction are usually quite apparent. Drug abuse of any kind affects the entire body from blood pressure to pulse rate. Cocaine and methamphetamine are stimulants and speed the addict up, increasing his blood pressure and overall metabolism. Addicts are often nervous and irritable. Conversely, opiate and barbiturate drugs slow the body down and reduce heart rate and blood pressure. On high doses, breathing can be reduced to dangerous levels.

Although all drug addicts abuse their particular drug of choice for temporary good sensations or feelings, the mental and emotional side effects can be long-lived and will vary depending on the drug used. Some of the general effects of drug abuse and addiction include:

* Unnaturally agitated behavior
* Extreme restlessness
* Inability to relax or sleep
* Extreme talkativeness
* Confusion and disorientation
* Slow or slurred speech
* Loss of coordination
* Extreme slow reaction time
* Inappropriate moods
* Drastic weight loss or gain
* Excessive sleep
* Chronic sinus and nose problems
* Coughing blood
* Rapid dental deterioration
* Rapid anger to point of violence
* Paranoid delusions
* Extreme depression
* Hallucinations

Most sex addicts get little satisfaction from their sexual activities and usually do not form emotional bonds with partners. Sex addiction most often results in guilt, shame and a lack of behavior control despite the negative financial, health, social, or emotional consequences. Sexual addicts are unable to form close friendships. They exhibit feelings of shame and unworthiness that may make them unable to be involved with and real intimacy in their lives.

Many sex addicts suffer from intense loneliness and develop a sense of loss of self-esteem. It is typical that sex addicts report feelings of guilt or shame along with strong feelings of isolation and loneliness. Most sex addicts feel extreme hopelessness or despair. Ninety percent of them feel they are acting against their own personal values and beliefs and most of them are emotionally exhausted. It is no surprise that nearly all exhibit fear for their own futures.

Sex addiction can involve a wide variety of specific behaviors and is often present along with drug and alcohol addiction. It can also be related to psychological disorders. Many sex addicts admit there was a progressive progress to their disease. It started with masturbation and pornography and progressed to increasingly dangerous behaviors.

The end result of all sex addiction is a person’s powerlessness over a compulsive behavior. The result is their lives becoming unmanageable. The addict may wish to stop but life is out of control and the tremendous societal shame makes them unable to change. The unmanageability of the addicts’ life can be seen in the consequences suffered by the loss of real love relationships, problems at work, legal trouble, financial trouble, and loss of interest in all things not directly connected to sex.

Effects of Sex Addiction –

* Masturbation
* Excessive use of pornography
* Multiple affairs
* Multiple partners
* Unsafe sex practices
* Use of prostitutes
* Exhibitionism
* Voyeurism
* Sexually transmitted diseases
* Jail

In addition to the huge social and monetary costs to prosecuting “the war on drugs,” the human costs at the level of the addict’s life are huge. Drug addiction has such negative long-term effects on a person’s overall health, finances and stability; it makes drug addiction more complex and challenging than simply addressing a person’s mental or physical problems alone. The effects of drug addiction will eventually strain all relationships including family, friends and the community in general. As the addict blames his family and friends due to his denials and rationalizations, his closest remaining relationships are driven away and he becomes even more isolated and difficult to treat.

A drug addict’s physical health outlook is poor at best. People who abuse drugs risk many problems ranging from neglecting their own basic health to serious infectious diseases. Diseases like hepatitis and HIV are common among drug addicts as a result of sharing needles. Drug addiction can also promote lung disease, heart problems, brain damage and ultimately, death from an overdose. Most addicts cannot devote sufficient attention to a job and their productivity will suffer to the point that they have trouble keeping any employment at all or even become homeless.

The most powerful effect of drug addiction may be denial – as the addict’s urge to use is so strong that they can rationalize nearly any behavior no matter how illegal, immoral or unethical. Addicts continually underestimate the cost of the drugs they are taking and how much it is costing them with their family and work. A common effect is that that an addict does not believe they have a problem and they can make others feel like they are exaggerating and overstating his drug problem. This is often frustrating and dysfunctional for all involved.

Blaming other people is a common effect of drug addiction. Addicts love to blame everyone else for their problems. The denial and rationalization will invariably lead to increased problems with work, finances and relationships as an overall pattern of deterioration sets in.

Unfortunately, many of the long-term effects of drug addiction are not limited to the addict. In addition to the tremendous effects on the American economy, family and friends will often bear the brunt of an addict’s emotional and monetary violations. Broken families in poverty as well as child abuse and child neglect are all too often common results of drug addiction. Drug addiction by pregnant mothers can affect a developing baby’s health and moves the problem into a whole new generation. Much of the domestic violence in our cities can be attributed to drug addiction. Hospitals are the frequent destination of drug addicts as well as the victims of their crimes. Drug addiction is a direct path to a violent life and a shorter life overall.