Is Tiger Woods a Sex Addict?

(CBS)  A report on the Daily Beast Web site Monday said superstar golfer Tiger Woods might have a problem with prescription medications, but more talk came Tuesday that Woods may really be addicted to sex.

Woods is just the latest celebrity embroiled in allegations of infidelity.

When does cheating constitute a sex addiction?

The number of women claiming to have had a sexual relationship with Woods has reportedly grown to ten.

Dr. Drew Pinksy, of the VH1 series "Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew," told CBS News, "You've got to wonder about addiction. That's the process that has people doing things that don't make sense."

And that's raised the question -- when does infidelity cross over into sex addiction?

Pinksy speculated that Woods' behavior could be part of a larger problem.

He said, "I wouldn't be surprised if we find out there is a chemical addiction, as well. Sometimes, these sexual compulsions come out as part of an overall addictive process to a chemical."

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However, according to Pinksy, there is a way out of this for Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren.

Pinksy said, "When both people are willing to work and they commit to each other, they can end up in a very good place."

Robert Weiss, executive director of Sexual Recovery Institute, said on "The Early Show" he agreed with Pinksy's assessment.

"It just feels like there's this hot bubble of secrets that's blowing open, and it's been closed for a very long time. ... When those secrets start to come out and that honesty really needs to be called for, that's when people can really be in the most pain. It sounds like that's really happening," he said. "All of us, we've lost one of our heroes in a way."

As for reports of a drug addiction, Weiss said chemical addictions and sexual addictions often go hand-in-hand.

"People do things really crazy things when they're using," Weiss said. "And who knows whether that is the case here or not, but we do know that there's certainly a lot of smoke."

More on Tiger Woods:

Report: Elin Nordegren Moves Out
Police Sought Blood Test for Woods
Photos: Tiger Woods
Photos: Sports Sex Scandals
Photos: Elin Nordegren
Tiger Woods: I Let My Family Down
Parnevik: I Thought Tiger was a Better Guy
Tiger's Alleged Voicemail Message
Did Tiger Ask Grubbs for "A Huge Favor"?

[practicaladvice]

I have been married for years to a woman who could not care less whether she has sex or not. She wasn't that way when she was wooing me. We had sex everyday until after we were married for a few years. When the kids came, she saw herself as only a mother and not my lover any more. Wake up! People have needs..hers was spending money to beat the Joneses, mine was finding a discrete way to stay happy and sane and married, cause I did love her too. I understand why the world's oldest profession is still going strong. My love for her never strayed, but when I was in need I was alone to keep my sanity. Tiger may be the same.

[davcor2]

Tiger is no more a sex addict than Ghandi . . . . . After my first divorce, I set out to nail everything. This because I originally got married for all the wrong reasons. I wanted a soul mate and a perfect relationship which is almost impossible. I am not justifying what he did but believe me, only ten is not an addiction . . . . . .

[tmittelstaed]

Did you set out to nail everything DURING or AFTER your marriage was over? You managed to keep it in your pants until it was OK to let it out, so it's OK that Tiger can't even do that? Think about what your saying. If Tiger has an addition it's not because he did it with ten, it's because he was married and did it with ten while married.

[icanseeyou]

Tiger Woods isn't a sex addict. He's just a dude who gave up everything (including dating) for a singleminded focus on GOLF during most of his young adulthood. Suddenly he discovered WOMEN and started playing a ridiculous game of catchup. I think it was actually getting married that was the triggering mechanism for him thinking about what he had missed and going out to sew his oats. We are all human. No one is exempt, no matter how much we think we can program ourselves to fit a mold of perfection. Whether concious or subconcious, we end up having to face our needs. Sooner or later.

[tmittelstaed]

Nobody is faulting Tiger for going out and sowing his oats. They are faulting him for doing it while married. He could have simply chose to not get married and do this and we all would have cheered.

[lwk_1]

Is Tiger as sex addict? If "Insider" TV news reports are correct in that he did it nine (9) times in ONE night with a girl whose name begins with "R", I would say he far exceeds the description.

[Rodney_Hart]

He is done. He just need to lay low for a year or so. Gone to rehab. Sure.

[sean56v]

It's no secret that Tiger Woods has an extreme sexual appetite for other men. He should indulge himself with transgenderism rather than become a tabloid figure.

[Jack_Webb]

Get out of here you greasy colon climber. I should think that the man has made sexual preferences pretty clear by now. His taste in women might be rather poor but all of his concubines are women just the same.

[brianbwb-2009]

Procreation is a natural part of life, even trees do it.

Marriage is a man-made concept, and no tradition man can invent can supersede what nature does.

"Doing it" was around long before marriage was, and will be around long after.

Show me someone who is not a sex addict, that is someone you should be worried about.

[voxpopulus]

Ha ha ha. Those f...ing trees. How do you tell the boys from the girls?

[skydotcom]

Claiming sex addiction is the excuse du jour, and Tiger's best bet; Many in the public will forgive an addiction, especially one linked to prescription drugs. But ---if'n I was a bettin' man--- I'd say Tiger was this sheltered Daddy's boy till he was in his 20s and probably didn't get ANY till about the time he turned pro. Then suddenly he's a multi-millionaire, getting poon-tang tossed at him from every which way. The lid was torn from Pandora's smorgasbord and he went hog wild, shaggin' everything in sight. This isn't about addiction, this is about OPPORTUNITY, which starts with "O". And there's a ton of "O"s in $1,OOO,OOO,OOO.

[esq777]

Let's face it, every man with a pulse is a sex addict. Some men however have some self control and can restrain themselves to be faithful to their wives. Sure the women involved are probably gold diggers, but nobody forced Tiger to open his pants or his wallet. There has to be some personal accountability.

[aubfmet]

What made him think he could get away with it, or did he think at all? If a man does not think at all, how can he be considered a hero? Aside from hitting a golf ball, Tiger isn't so much.