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In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its International Classification of Diseases, the manual for classifying conditions, addictions and diagnosis (ICD). This document was last updated in the 90s, which explains why things like gaming addiction and online porn addiction were not included. Yet in the latest update ICD-11, the WHO recognizes online gaming addiction, but does not recognize online porn addiction.

Somehow, even though the term and concept of “sex addiction” has been around for many years, we cannot get to an agreement on the addictive nature of pornography and sex. Even though the research clearly shows the addiction happening, we cannot bring ourselves to admit it, particularly in the mental health field. Now, I am not a clinician, though I do work very closely with some great ones, so I cannot comment from a clinical point of view. However, I don’t think you need a doctorate to see the studies, read the data, speak to the addicts and draw a solid no-nonsense correlation that this is a TRUE ADDICTION.

In its latest update, the WHO does take a step forward by at least acknowledging something they call – “compulsive sexual behavior disorder”, or CSBD, as a mental illness.

But the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (a UN health body) can’t commit to the idea of sex addiction or porn addiction like they now recognize gaming or gambling. WHY?

Dr. Peter Kleponis, Ph.D., SATP-C, explains some possible reasoning for their decision, “One reason why porn addiction is not listed is because there is a lot of debate on how to classify it. Is it an addiction, a compulsive disorder, an impulse control disorder, and anxiety disorder, etc.? In reality, it’s a hybrid of all of these classifications. However, for treatment purposes, it’s most practical to classify it as an addiction. I am sure that with continued neuroscience research it will eventually end up in the ICD book.”

According to WHO expert, Geoffrey Reed: “Conservatively speaking, we don’t feel that the evidence is there yet… that the process is equivalent to the process with alcohol or heroin,”

I find it interesting that Mr. Reed chose to reference two chemical addictions as opposed to a similar addiction like gaming or gambling, though I suppose that would not have helped his explanation. For too long, we have allowed the conversation to come back to this argument. An addiction is only an addiction if it is caused by a chemical being introduced to the body from the outside upon which we grow dependent. However, gaming, gambling and yes, sex and porn addiction can create dependencies on internal chemicals in our bodies…dopamine, delta FOS-B, etc. It does not have to be something external to create a dependency (Dr. Kleponis does a great job explaining this in our INFORMED video series https://integrityrestored.com/Informed/).

The document, which member states will be asked to approve during the World Health Assembly in Geneva next May, will take effect on January 1, 2022, if it is adopted.

Let’s change the conversation, let’s get people the help they need.

Jim O’Day

Executive Director