Give sex addicts more help from NHS, says charity

Russell Brand is among the celebrities who have talked
openly about sex addiction

Relationship charity Relate is calling for the NHS to offer more
help and treatment for sex addicts.

The charity describes the condition as “any sexual activity that
feels out of control”, which can include practices such as
viewing pornography, masturbation, visiting prostitutes, and
experiencing excessive sexual fantasies.

Although some experts have cast doubt over the existence of the
disorder, Relate insists that “being sexually addicted is
not defined by the activity itself but by the possible negative
effect on the individual’s quality of life and on those around
them”, which makes it harder to classify the condition.

Russell Brand and Ozzy Osbourne are among the celebrities who
have claimed to suffer from sex addiction.

Speaking to the BBC, Relate spokesperson Peter Saddington said that
while therapy and support for sex addicts is available, most of it
is privately run.

“For alcoholics, there is Alcoholics Anonymous, but they can
also go to the NHS [which] provides support for people who have
alcohol or drug problems,” Saddington said.

“It would be appropriate that [sex addicts] can go to their GP
and get support, because it has a crippling effect both on them, on
relationships, on their families, their financial situation and
their mental health. [Addicts] realise it is causing harm, but
they can’t stop and they recognise they need help in changing
it.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
“People who think they may have a sex addiction can seek advice and
help via NHS Choices, which includes contacts at Relate, Sexaholics
Anonymous, SAA [Sex Addicts Anonymous] and ATSAC
[the Association for the Treatment of
Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity].”

According to the findings of questionnaire completed by 21,058
people since 2013 on the Sex Addiction
Help website, 91% of those seeking help for sex addiction were
male. A total of 31% were aged between 26 and 35, while 1% were
under 16, and 8% over 55. 

The World Health Organisation is expected to approve the
inclusion of “compulsive sexual behaviour disorder” in its updated
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) list in May 2019,
the BBC reports.