Slate's Dan Engber discusses the history of sex-as-addiction in the medical community, noting, "the 1973 discovery of opiate receptors in the brain made it clear that our normal pleasure response is something like a scaled-down version of a drug high… If activities like eating and sex could activate the same pleasure centers as heroin, morphine, and cocaine, it was a small step to assume that repeated behavior might generate its own dependency." But Engber adds that shrinks are still arguing over the meaning of addiction in general. "Some argue that the euphemistic use of dependence has done little to eliminate the stigma associated with the condition," he writes. "Others see the medicalization of behavior—sexual or otherwise—as a form of social control."

Today's Wall Street Journal lists some of the criteria of sex addiction. Executive director of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health Robin Cato tells the Journal: "You need to ask yourself: Is this a secret? Are you spending money on it you don't have? How does it affect your job or your marriage? What would happen if you were caught?" The Journal adds that sex addicts are frequently narcissists, and whether or not you believe sex addiction exists, it probably doesn't hurt for people who think about no one but themselves to go through a treatment that makes them realize other people are affected by their actions.

Sex Dramedy [Slate]
Is Sex Addiction A Sickness, Or Excuse To Behave Badly? [WSJ]

Earlier: Not Quite Enough Sympathy To Go Around For The Sex Addict
Maybe So-Called Sex Addicts Should Enroll In 12-Step Programs

Chapter 33

Leaning forward with both my hands spread against the wall, my knees folding a little, I say, "Easy does it." I tell Tanya, "You're not starting a lawnmower."
And Tanya kneeling under me, still looking at the greasy, stinking balls on the floor, says, "Oh boy." She lifts the string of red rubber balls for me to see, and she says, "There are supposed to be ten."
There's only eight and what looks like a lot of empty string.

He gets them out, by the way, in Chapter 47 in the police station, shitting himself in the process. I don't think Fox is counting on a lot of people to whom they've given the swag having read the book. Plus, the string on the ones in the picture doesn't look like you are gonna ever be able to get it clean.

Enjoy These Complimentary Anal Beads Courtesy of Fox Searchlight' "Choke" [Defamer]

Related: Choke Official Site [Fox Searchlight]

Chuck Palahniuk Snuff Tour Beads Choke Promo Movie [Ebay]