Sex Addiction - Who Knew?

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I've been an avid follower of VH1's Dr. Drew rehab reality series since it began a few years ago. To my surprise, they have broken away from handling drug addiction and slid over to the more obscure area of sex addiction in Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew. I must admit that the idea of someone being addicted to the wonderful world of copulation sends me into a fit of giggles that makes my stomach cramp. However, it was clear that the therapists on the show didn't find it funny at all. According to VH1 Blog, 3%-6% of the American population are battling this little known addiction.

Although I have never known any one in my life in rehab for sexual issues, you can easily look to the celebrity world for such tales. In August 2009, E! Online confirmed that David Duchovny, the actor known for his roles in XFiles and Californication, was in a rehab for sex addiction. If you have a really good memory, you'll remember that movie actress Halle Berry accused the R&B singer Eric Benet of being oversexed and in serious need of rehabilitation. (I'm still wounded over that one. How could ya Eric!) Least we not forget, Michael Douglas has also been slapped with the sex addict moniker.

Premiere Show Highlights:

• One of the rehab facility's workers checked porn star Penny Flame's(aka Jennifer Ketchum) luggage for sexy contraband such as sex aids, skin mags and knee pads(yea, knee pads). During the search, she confiscates a rather large phallic device nicknamed "Ron Jeremy".
• Surfer James “Jamie” Lovett was shocked to find out that he had a growth in his throat that could mean he has the sexually transmitted virus, HPV.
• Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain admitted to suffering a masturbation marathon that lasted all day with a total count of 18 orgasms.
• Musician Phil Varone claimed to have slept with at least 3000 women.

After watching the show, I was left with a persistent thought. It seems that if someone does feel that their sex life is spinning out of control that they will have a serious battle to get it back to a normal level. Even the rehab environment offers extra obstacles. A crack addict doesn't have to sit and socialize with a bag of crack. However, sex addicts see possibly attractive sex partners everyday in the hallways and group therapy sessions. Temptation surrounds them.

I still don't know if I believe in sex addiction, but maybe the show will enlighten me as it progresses. I'll stay tuned.

Showtime: Sundays at 10PM EST on VH1

Further Reading:
Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew
David Duchovny Rehabbing for Sex Addiction
Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew (main)

Nudity = Obscene? Really?

A couple of recent incidents have brought the issue of nudity and the American mindset to my thoughts lately. Of course, there is the controversy and apparent upset about the nudity in ESPN's Body Issue that came out October 9, 2009. According to various sources, some Christian groups are disappointed with ESPN (which is owned by Disney) because they perceive this issue as using sex to sale. However, I see one glaring flaw in this theory. There is no "sex" in the ESPN special issue.

Frankly, I would venture to say that most men that stroll to the bathroom with Playboy and Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue would not pick up Body Issue from the magazine rack for their extra curricular purposes. The photo spread includes athletes such as Sara Reinertsen, a female amputee that completed the Ironman competition, Byambajav Ulambayar, a 341 lb. sumo wrestler and Michelle Carter, a quite muscular Olympic shot putter. Needless to say, these are not the figures gracing skin magazines. But beyond that, it is obvious that ESPN is highlighting sport physique not sex.

The tragedy is how some people take the beauty of nudity and instantly associate it with sexuality. What exactly is base, lewd or profane about the human body? Why exactly is it ok for children to watch a violent sport like football or hockey but a travesty for them to see a woman's nipple? The answers to these questions aren't black and white. But, I do think it represents a strange sickness in American culture fueled by the fundamentalist religious crowd.

Perhaps, these people should ask themselves why they feel this magazine is obscene. After all, God molded the beautiful and amazing forms that grace the covers of these pages.

Photo Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidisbester/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

More Information:

ESPN's Body Issue Photo Gallery

ESPN's Body Issue With Serena Williams