Porn Is The New Drug

Porn is the new drug. Did you know that pornography is now being referred to as the “new drug?” Multiple studies have shown that dopamine, the same hormone released when using narcotic drugs, is also released while viewing porn. 

Dopamine is such a powerful hormone, it is also known as the “reward chemical.” Dopamine is released when we take a risk, learn something new, or do something exciting. Dopamine makes us feel successful and encourages us to repeat the activity to “feel good” again which can lead to becoming addicted.

A few surprising statistics:

• Most pornography users have their first exposure to pornography by 11 years old.
• 33% of porn users are female.
• 64 % of young people ages 13-24 actively seek out pornography weekly or more often.
• 30 % of the material streamed on the internet is pornography
• Porn sites receive more regular traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined.
• There are an average of 116,000 daily searches for child pornography.

We need to open our eyes to the dangers of such easy access and widespread use of pornography.

What can happen?

1. Pornography usage easily becomes addictive, and it takes more and more shocking images to achieve the same “high.”
2. Pornography impacts the way women see themselves, leading to issues such as body dysmorphia (an irrational obsession with perceived flaws in one’s appearance), anxiety, and depression.
3. Likewise, pornography impacts the way men see women. Men begin viewing women only as sexual objects, existing to satisfy the desires of men, rather than as human beings in need of love, support, and encouragement.
4. Viewing pornography leads to less satisfaction and contentment with “real-life” relationships and intimacy. Pornography inevitably leads to unhealthy marital relationships and often, divorce. 
5. Some studies show that pornography can decrease brain function.
6. Studies also show that viewing pornography can lead to sexual impairment, particularly in men.

There is an even darker element to the pornography industry that isn’t often discussed or understood by the mainstream culture. Porn is often created at the expense of women, men, boys, and girls being exploited by sex traffickers. Many porn users believe that their habit “isn’t hurting anyone.” However, the shocking reality is that pornography creates a “market” for sex trafficking, so the use of pornography is actually causing people (many of them minors) to be victimized in order to create the “product.”

In today’s digital culture, pornography goes much deeper than a hidden magazine. Pornography is a dangerous addiction that hurts people, relationships, and marriages. Is it worth the risk?

To learn more about the adverse effects of pornography on the brain, heart, body, and the world, visit Fight the New Drug.

Source: fightthenewdrug.org 

AbbaCare is a pregnancy resource center located in Winchester, VA and Martinsburg, WV. To learn more, visit abbacare.org.