Through conferences, publications, and other educational media, SASH provides platforms for professionals to collaborate and for communities to support positive sexual health practices.
[5] SASH was founded by Patrick Carnes in 1987, originally as the National Council on Sexual Addiction (NCSA).
[6][7] In 2010, the topic of "sex addiction" received widespread public attention following revelations about the personal life of golfer Tiger Woods.
[8][9] Starting in 2013, SASH shifted their policy and position statements away from the somewhat controversial topic of sex addiction, adopting a broader definition of problematic sexual behavior.
The organization continued to provide training and resources to their members to keep abreast of changes in the research and evidence.