Meds for gays - right or wrong?

[BlindSheep]

Just a hypothetical situation that I thought of:
If a psychologist had a patient who had SSA, but who wanted to be chaste, would it be wrong for the doctor to prescribe medication which would reduce the patient’s sex drive (at the patient’s request)? Would the medication be a “cop out”, or a way for the patient to avoid the near occasion of sin? What do you think and why?

 

[Mom_of_one]

Why would it be wrong for the doctor to prescribe something that would help his patient live a godly, chaste life? I don’t think that it would be, unless there is an underlying theological reason that i don’t know about.

 

[otm]

Minor issue: psychologists don’t administer drugs; psychiatrists do.

Having siad that, one would need to know if the drugs had harmful, possibly fatal side effects, whether or not they were effective, whether or not they were contra-indicated due to other medications.

Having vetted that process, I do not see a particualr moral issue.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

HMMMMMM…I wonder if they do this for heterosexual men or women who wish to remain chaste while single?

Personally, unless the person has a medical condition (unusually high sex drive) I think it would just mask the problem.

But every situation is different. I would rather have a person admit that they need help keeping their desires under control than just give in to them saying “I can’t help it”. It would also depend on side effects, cost, risks etc.

Malia

 

[Prodigal_Son]

I think it’s a cop out.

The problem with SSA is not the action, itself. It is the will toward the action, that the person allows to dominate him. The action is a symptom. Not encountering that symptom would “alleviate” the situation without the person having to face the underlying issues at work in it.

God gives us over to our sinful nature, because he respects our will – and all the while, He calls us back to Him. If we try and limit that sinful nature, we are saying we know better than God.

(Note: I agree that if there is an actual *medical * problem, the intervention would likely be morally permissable).

 

[Katie1723]

BlindSheep:

Just a hypothetical situation that I thought of:
If a psychologist had a patient who had SSA, but who wanted to be chaste, would it be wrong for the doctor to prescribe medication which would reduce the patient’s sex drive (at the patient’s request)? Would the medication be a “cop out”, or a way for the patient to avoid the near occasion of sin? What do you think and why?

I believe it’s called “saltpeter” In any case, the “capability” may be diminished but the “drive” is still there. Look at it like this, I quit smoking cold turkey over 7 years ago. However, on occasion, to this day, I find myself wanting a cigarette. I don’t succumb, but the desire is there.

~ Kathy ~

 

[BlindSheep]

What’s called saltpeter?

I thought of this because I am married, but separated, and therefore have to be celibate. I’ve been taking Zoloft for years (for depression), and don’t have the same sex drive I did before I took it. I suppose it has made it easier to be celibate, and I wondered if it would be a help for people with SSA to use medication (not neccessarily Zoloft - it has tons of side effects, I’m tapering off it myself) for that purpose. As far as it being a medical condition goes, would you consider SSA a medical condition? I know it’s no longer on the DSM-IV, but I, for one, think it ought to be.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

BlindSheep:

What’s called saltpeter?

I thought of this because I am married, but separated, and therefore have to be celibate. I’ve been taking Zoloft for years (for depression), and don’t have the same sex drive I did before I took it. I suppose it has made it easier to be celibate, and I wondered if it would be a help for people with SSA to use medication (not neccessarily Zoloft - it has tons of side effects, I’m tapering off it myself) for that purpose. As far as it being a medical condition goes, would you consider SSA a medical condition? I know it’s no longer on the DSM-IV, but I, for one, think it ought to be.

Don’t conflate psychology with medicine. Some psychological conditions are medical; some are not. Depression is, in part, a chemical imbalance. SSA is not. SSA takes something that is healthy (sexual drive) and directs it in a psychologically unhealthy way.

Just because medicine can change it doesn’t make it medical.

 

[BlindSheep]

Prodigal_Son:

Don’t conflate psychology with medicine. Some psychological conditions are medical; some are not. Depression is, in part, a chemical imbalance. SSA is not. SSA takes something that is healthy (sexual drive) and directs it in a psychologically unhealthy way.

Just because medicine can change it doesn’t make it medical.

I disagree. I don’t think we “direct” our sexuality towards one sex or the other; the type of person that arouses us is beyond our control. If a person is experiencing disordered sexual attractions, I would consider that a medical problem which is likely to result from exposure to teratogens in utero and abnormal brain development. Psychology concerns how we cope with and control our sexual urges, but the urges themselves are certainly, at least in a largfe part, biological.
True, disordered sexual urges could result from subconcious psychological drives, but there is evidence that, in SSA, there is a biological problem. I remember research which linked SSA (in males) to exposure to excess female hormones in utero in the 4th month, and also statistics that showed an increase in SSA among populations exposed to female hormones in the drinking water. I’m also skeptical of claims that it is caused by upbringing, since there seems to be little to back up that assumption. Certainly, if this were the case, there would be more hope in correcting it via psychotherapy, but if it is a biological problem, medication would seem to be the logical treatment, don’t you think?

 

[fix]

otm:

Minor issue: psychologists don’t administer drugs; psychiatrists do.

Actually, some states do allow Psychologists to prescribe. It is always a debate.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

BlindSheep:

I disagree. I don’t think we “direct” our sexuality towards one sex or the other; the type of person that arouses us is beyond our control.

I don’t think it matters why a person has SSA to determine if they should have their sex drive diminished by medication.

The question is should we use medication to diminish sex drives in people that seem incapable of controlling them…

I say it depends on the reason. If there is no medical problem (hormonal etc) then I do think it is a band aid solution.

If we prescribe meds for people with SSA, should we then prescribe to every single heterosexual man and woman who will not control their desires?

What about people who struggle against masturbation? Should the person learn how to control themselves or pop a pill?

How about every oversexed teenage boy? Maybe we should put the meds in the drinking water .

And then we could give meds to every overseas soldier who is away from his wife…and we’d better give it to their wives too…

uh oh…this could be endless! I’ll stick with “no meds unless medically neccesary”.

Malia

 

[BlindSheep]

I see your point; however, there are a lot of people out there (gay and straight) who claim that they cannot control themselves sexually. Why not say to them “if you really can’t control yourself, then you can take medication”? How many would actually be willing to take it? How many really want to avoid unhealthy, immoral sex, and how many use “can’t” as an excuse to indulge themselves?

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

BlindSheep:

I see your point; however, there are a lot of people out there (gay and straight) who claim that they cannot control themselves sexually. Why not say to them “if you really can’t control yourself, then you can take medication”? How many would actually be willing to take it? How many really want to avoid unhealthy, immoral sex, and how many use “can’t” as an excuse to indulge themselves?

Exactly.

The only people who would be willing to take the medication would be the ones who know their behavior is wrong.

Most people who know their behavior is wrong do everything in their power to correct it.

If they can’t learn to control themselves through counselling etc then they may be good candidates for meds.

But they would be a very small percentage of the people who say they “can’t” control themselves.

Malia

 

[Ani_Ibi]

BlindSheep:

I thought of this because I am married, but separated, and therefore have to be celibate. I’ve been taking Zoloft for years (for depression), and don’t have the same sex drive I did before I took it.

I think that the use of saltpetre and the zoloft are analogous. Zoloft, for instance reduces the intensity of the depression so that the patient is more accessible to psychotherapy. Similarly a drug which reduces the intensity of sexual feelings can make the ‘patient’ more accessible to supportive lifestyle therapy. These changes happen little-step by little-step. Sometimes it is literally whatever gets you through the night as long as that is directed toward healing not hurting. God bless those who are hurting right now.

 

[otm]

fix:

Actually, some states do allow Psychologists to prescribe. It is always a debate.

Hmm. Didn’t know that, but then, so do physicians’ assistants.

I believe it to be the contrary in Oregon.

 

[otm]

BlindSheep:

I see your point; however, there are a lot of people out there (gay and straight) who claim that they cannot control themselves sexually. Why not say to them “if you really can’t control yourself, then you can take medication”? How many would actually be willing to take it? How many really want to avoid unhealthy, immoral sex, and how many use “can’t” as an excuse to indulge themselves?

Given the higher than average rate of both depression and suicide among those with SSA, the numbers might be higher than you think.

 

[mjdonnelly]

BlindSheep:

Why not say to them “if you really can’t control yourself, then you can take medication”?

Same argument people use for administering birth control.

There already is a procedure that removes sex drive, it is called castration and has been used for centuries. I think recently a criminal pleaded with a judge to have one ordered for him but the judge refused that request. Cannot remember where I read it though, I’ll have to search for it.

 

[MikeinSD]

In the US, any medical health professional who chemically castrated a clinically depressed patient for reasons of an imaginary illness, such as “SSA” would face ethical and possible criminal charges. The medical health professional would have to answer to his or her professional association – all of whom say homosexuality is a normal varient of human sexuality. For such violation of medical ethical codes, the professional would likely lose his or her license to practice. The patient, who can be treated for his or her depression, can also press criminal charges for assault. There is no such “illness” described loosely as “SSA” in the DSM-IV allpsych.com/books/index.html#r If I am mistaken, please let me know.

If faithful Christian does not like homosexuals, homosexuality, gay men or lesbians and cites Catholic church teachings, then she or he is discussing a matter of faith. The Catholic church can of course teach and defend its faith as can any other religion. Faith based statements are cannot be contested in secular way. One believes or one doesn’t. If a faithful Christian wants to use science to defend or enforce his or her argument against homosexuals, homosexuality, gay men or lesbians, then he or she has to cite scientific studies, theories, as well as provide scientific proof of his or her thesis or argument.
And be prepared to rebut scientific evidence against his or her thesis.

In other words, dislike homosexuals and homosexuality as much as you like. Cite whatever doctrines you think is necessary. I can’t argue with faith. Cross the line and declare your opinion also as a standard of mental health then be prepared to discuss science.

Sorry, talking about castrating me or my loved ones makes me angry and sad.

 

[rayne89]

Katie1723:

I believe it’s called “saltpeter” In any case, the “capability” may be diminished but the “drive” is still there.
~ Kathy ~

No it’s not salt peter is’s prozac. My husband was on it for depression and it decreases the drive not the capabilty -eveything remains in working order. My close friend has been on it too and she said her sex drive is at zero on prozac.

 

[crusader4life]

I almost don’t see the point of the meds for this situation. The reason why is because there has never been any scientific evidence of homosexual traits. There’s no chromosome, genetic mutation, or hormone in our body to make us naturally lean towards homosexuality. It’s all in our head and thoughts. And because of this…it would be hard to take medicine to change our habits and thoughts. The brain is far more complicated than that. Therapy and psych help may be advised and used, but there’s really no pill that can really help this situation. …at least that’s how I see it.