While the problem of substance use and addiction has gained cultural notoriety as an individual, social, and healthcare problem worldwide, behavioral-based addictions such as sex addiction have had a much harder time gaining acceptance within the medical, therapeutic and cultural communities. Thanks to an increase in evidence-based research studies, sex addiction is gaining acceptance as a legitimate mental health problem that has a defined set of diagnostic criteria and pattern of behaviors. Additionally, recent research has begun to identify the link between sex addiction and past trauma in the life of the addicted person.