The “drug of the new millennium,” has begun its attack on relationships, lives, homes, marriages and the minds of its users. According to Dr. Mark Kastlemen, a researcher for the “Fight the New Drug” campaign.
This drug is not a substance taken orally or by a syringe but it is seen. It has become a rising global issue and researchers and scientists are doing their best to ensure public awareness of it.
The drug is pornography.
On Dec. 7, 2011, the Utah State University chapter of the Fight the New Drug campaign will host an event on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center, titled “Fight Night,” at 7 p.m.
The USU chapter known as the “Aggie Fighters,” will host a movie night where students can come and learn about the club. They will then watch a movie for a study break before getting back to the books as finals are approaching.
Fight the New Drug, also known as FTND was founded five years ago by Ryan Werner, Cam Lee and Clay Olsen. In February of 2010 it was then instated as a non-profit organization and has been building its campaign around scientific facts regarding the effects pornography has on a person’s mind.
Lynn Walker is the president over the Aggie Fighters at USU and has had his own personal connection with the FTND. He started the USU chapter last spring and has been helping to promote and inform others of the cause ever since.
“New studies have shown that pornography addiction is closely related to the brain because it stimulates the same part of the brain that drugs do,” said Walker, “ the goal is to raise awareness and educate people, because this is how pornography can affect you and impact your life. We don’t say it’s wrong to look at it and talk about the morality aspect of it. We leave the choice up to them whether they choose to view it or not.”
FTND is not associated with any religious or political agendas. They are simply there to raise awareness of the facts regarding pornography and the impact it can have on a person’s life: physically, emotionally and socially.
“I like the fact that it’s all about facts and science and not religiously based,” said Zack Smith, a member of the Aggie Fighters, “they aren’t anti or hateful against pornography just simply educating the public.”
According to Fighthenewdrug.org, like other stimulating activities, “pornography activates the pleasure centers in the brain that literally flood the mind with chemicals.”
This is what causes pornography to become so addictive and harmful.
“You don’t understand it’s having a physical effect on you if you don’t know what you’re getting into. You don’t see the harm in it and you don’t see a reason to change until it goes to far. I realize that I’m not the only one affected, it affects guys and girls and it affects relationships and the quality of life for the individual caught up in it. It sucks the life out of you, like any addiction,” Walker said.
For more information on how to get involved and future events by the “Aggie Fighters” go to their Facebook page at the following link: Aggie Fighters.
I went to a meeting where a doctor was talking about how pornography creates physical changes to your brain. It is incredibly addictive and it's important not to just judge the person as a "low life" or something. It is a real struggle and the exposure may have started: at a really young age, with curiosity, on accident, or from people pushing it at any time etc. Another study said that the specific areas of the brain (near the pleasure centers) that lights up while viewing pornography is associated with tools use- There is a disassociation between the person they love and the need to look at pornography because it is a true addiction.It will be interesting to see what more we learn as this problem becomes more open and recognized. Just like anything, it helps to know what people are fighting in order to help (love) them through it.
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