Racer Battles Porn To Regain Family

Craig and Anita Blanchette pose for a portrait near their Battle Ground home on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Craig Blanchette, a former world/Bloomsday champion wheelchair racer, battled a sex and pornography addiction that nearly destroyed his family. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)

In an age in which alcoholism garners almost as much sympathy as cancer, and talk-show guests get ovations for going three weeks without heroin, pornography addicts are typically dismissed as perverts or “sickos.” In the words of Dr. James Hancey, a psychiatrist at Oregon Health and Science University, “It’s funny. Nobody watches porn, but there sure is a lot of it out there.” This is partly why Blanchette took so long to confront his compulsion. It is also why he drives to Vancouver every Wednesday – so that he can lead a work group focused on helping men overcome similar problems, stressing that they find the root of their pain instead of simply treating the symptom/ John Blanchette , SR. More here.

Question: Do you consider pornography to be potentially addictive and, therefore, dangerous?