Case Study Assessment
Chemical Use Assessment/History and Treatment Recommendations

Name: Alan

DOB/Age: 42

Dates of Interviews: July 10-15, 2019

Evaluator: X

Reason for Assessment

Alan is addicted to pornography and masturbation and wants to stop looking at pornography while alone. He has been “hooked” since the age of 14 but has never come close to expiring the same feeling he had when he looked at porn for the first time. He wants to stop his addiction because he feels it is hurting his marriage and he does not want to lose his wife, who knows about his one infidelity as well as his addiction and worries that he might stray again. He has already been divorced once and has a son who does not live with him. Clearly he wants to break free of his addiction but does not know how to do it.

Sources of Information

Alan is the sole source of information for this case. He has presented himself for treatment with the understanding that the chemical dependency from which he is suffering can be treated. His current wife Becky could become a secondary source of information, as could his former wife, if more information is considered to be needed, but this is unlikely as Alan is very upfront about his history and his problem and sincerely wants help.

Background Information

Alan is a 42 year old divorced and now re-married adult male suffering from a pornography and masturbation addiction, which he has had since the age of 14. It is quite likely that this addiction played into the dissolution of his first marriage, and though he and his current wife look at pornography together he feels he is not helping his situation by looking at it alone while at work in his office and masturbating by himself. It was this type of fantasy addiction that compelled him to place a Craigslist ad earlier on, which led him to cheating on his current wife. It was a one-time affair and his current wife knows that but she is fearful he may do it again. Alan is fearful his habit is something he cannot control and that it will end up hurting his marriage. He wants to stop looking at pornography and masturbating alone, but his work in IT is such that he always has convenient access to it and thus he does not see any way to help himself.

Current Status

Alan’s current status is that he is addicted to pornography and masturbation and cannot control himself: if he is alone at work, he will use his computer to view pornography and masturbate.

Indicators of Use/Abuse/Dependency

Alan appears to have both a psychological and physical dependence on pornography and masturbation—though it is unclear what happens to him when he attempts to stop or whether he has ever attempted to stop. He has not indicated any withdrawal symptoms or what experiences he had in previous attempts to stop. He is a compulsive masturbator and even though he believes it is not good for his marriage and wants his marriage to last, he cannot stop himself from looking at pornography and masturbating. He believes it may ruin his marriage and seems to be basing this belief on the fact that he has already seen on marriage fail. His parents are divorced, and though the reason for this divorce is not given, it could possibly be related to sexual addiction or infidelity on his father’s part. He does state that his first exposure to pornography was by way of his step-father’s pornographic magazine.

Attitude and Behavior

Alan is very friendly, likable and has a good nature about him. He is in love with his current wife Becky and believes she is his soul mate. The fact that he has not experimented with other women since the one affair suggests that he is a bit more realistic about what love is and what it entails and that the fantasy he concocts while alone, looking at pornography and masturbating...…also help: he could hold himself accountable to someone he trusts. Accountability and shame are typically linked, so the shame that he would feel about using pornography at work might serve as a negative motivator to be more resilient to the triggering impulses. Porn blockers on his computer and phone may be helpful, but these should be installed by someone he trusts.

Since being alone at work gives Alan the opportunity to look at porn, it should be suggested that Alan also explore the possibilities of working in a more public space or transitioning to a job wherein he is working with others and is not given the opportunity to be alone. If he is open to this idea, it may mean that the psychological hold over his will is not as strong as he thinks and it too could be a good first step in conquering his addiction. Still, as Gilbert (2014) points out, attempting to overcome this type of addiction without using prayer or acknowledging a higher power and the need for external assistance (i.e., grace) may be like fighting a losing battle. Even in Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12-step approach to battling addiction, there is recognition of the need for a spiritual component or approach.

Addiction is not something one overcomes easily and it is typically a lifelong issue that the person must face. That means the person is going to have to take significant steps to change his life and this is true with Alan. To battle his addiction, he needs to remove himself from those places wherein he is most likely to feel tempted—and that is his office at work and, on occasion, when with his wife. The first step to treatment will be to identify ways for Alan to reduce the instances in which he has access to porn and then to begin engaging in positive habits—like prayer or church-going—that can further assist him in dealing with his addiction triggers.