There is no celebrated “war on porn” as there is against drugs. There is no concerted effort by governments and agencies to fight this cancer. And yet it affects the brain in exactly the same way that illicit drugs do. When a person views pornographic material, the brain is over-exposed to pleasure chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and epinephrine. The brain rewires itself to accommodate the extra chemicals. You build up a tolerance and a dependency on the chemicals. You go from wanting the pleasure chemicals in order to feel good to “needing” them. Pornography is the new drug epidemic. And it is taking the world by silent storm.
Just as with any other drug, thousands brazenly profit from its victims. Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry. Pushers of this perverted form of “free speech” unabashedly fight attempts to curb illicit material, no matter how vulgar or debasing it may be. Television and movies portray it as harmless fun. Some misguided counselors have even encouraged couples to watch porn to help solve their marital problems. What a tragic and horrible mistake!
Some will argue that looking at a few erotic images is no big deal—a “victimless crime.” But what about the people—overwhelmingly women—who sell themselves, or are sold, to fuel the porn industry? And what about the addicts themselves? Are they really fulfilled and contented by a habit that chains them to a cycle of uncontrolled lust followed by the downward spiral of self-loathing?
More and more research is showing the absolutely devastating effects of pornography on those who fall under its spell: increased chance of severe clinical depression, feelings of loneliness, loss of jobs, financial loss, marital infidelity and divorce. Perhaps the most surprising effect of porn is that it causes many addicts to lose their ability to enjoy or even engage in sex with a real person.
In their book, The Porn Trap, authors Wendy and Larry Maltz describe the devastating effects of pornography.“Because using porn often involves high levels of dishonesty and secrecy, those who are caught up in it often say they feel isolated, ashamed, depressed, phony, morally compromised, and even in some cases, suicidal.… Most porn users we’ve counseled or spoken with are surprised at how easily porn transformed from an occasional diversion or fantasy to a habitual problem that has the potential to destroy almost every aspect of their real lives… dragging down their relationships, their jobs, their self-esteem, and even their dreams and desires” (pp. 2–3). So, what is the solution?