An Estimated Nine Million People in U.S. Believed to Have Sex Addiction

The reports are in: More people in America are addicted to sex than ever before, with estimates exceeding nine million. Recent posts and articles are spurring conversation about why the complex disorder is becoming so prevalent in the U.S., and what can be done to help the millions who are living under the shadow of sexual addiction.

In the past, people with sexual addictions may have been grouped around the late-40s to 50-something age bracket, primarily men. Today, sexual addiction is affecting hundreds of thousands of young adults, many of whom grew up accessing pornography online at an early age. Experts say more young adults are seeking help for problems like erectile dysfunction or low libido, and then learning from their physicians that these are common symptoms of excessive pornography use and can be connected to sexual addiction.

For many of these young adults, behaviors related to sexual addiction – such as frequent sexual encounters with multiple partners – also reflect a shift in thought toward sex as a casual method of communication, and not necessarily tied to a committed relationship. They may also view sexual material or engage in sexual behaviors in the workplace, believing that these behaviors may be "normal" or acceptable.

The number of sexual addiction therapists is also on the rise, with an estimated 1,500 practicing in the U.S. today. Their methods for helping patients overcome the addiction are compared to those used for drug and alcohol addiction, because the sex addict seeks an escape or a "high" through their behavior in similar patterns as a drug addict or alcoholic.

Women and senior adults with sexual addictions or sexually compulsive behaviors are also reported to be increasing, which many experts believe is linked to the extreme availability and accessibility of sexual material online. Some reports estimate that as many as 40 million adults in America use a pornographic Internet site each day.