Gateway Drugs to Sexual Addiction

I recently met a drug dealer. He's been dealing since he was 17 - he's now 32. He bragged about driving a kilo of coke from Chicago on his lap and how much he made off selling that kilo in halves and ounces.

And like most dealers, he couldn't help but experience his products. His preference? Shooting a cocktail of cocaine and alcohol directly into his veins. He OD'd on that and ended up in the hospital, which is where I met him.

But he didn't start with coke and alcohol mixtures. A little marijuana, some ecstasy, lots of drinking... and he eventually ends up where he is now in life. Some people would call these "gateway drugs".

A couple weeks ago I saw a fantastic blog post by Shellie Warren on the xxxchurch site about "gateway drugs" into sexual addiction. While I have never counseled someone with what I would call an outright sexual addiction, I have counseled MANY people struggling with many of the areas Shellie talks about in her post. I think Shellie makes some great points. She herself is a recovering sexual addict, and so she speaks from experience. It is well worth your time to read or even skim her article.

If you find co-workers, or TV programs, or magazine articles telling you it's okay to watch this, or look at that, or consume these visual items, or fantasize in a certain way, know that you are being tempted with gateway drugs. And if you are wise and don't want to end up OD'd (out by divorce) someday, then you'll steer clear and "keep the marriage bed pure", even if you are currently single.

And if you ARE already struggling with some of these "drugs", please come talk with me. In the words of the great theologian Red Green - "Remember, I'm pulling for you. We're all in this together..."