By Julie Agne
For The Catholic Messenger
Representatives from Fight the New Drug will be in Solon on Dec. 5 for three presentations. They won’t be talking about opioid or heroin use, but something equally addictive and destructive: pornography.
The presentations at Solon High School Performing Arts Center, 600 5th St., are free and open to the public. Presentations will be held at 5:30 p.m. for middle school students; 6:30 p.m. for parents; and 7:30 p.m. for high school students. Parents are welcome to listen to the youth sessions and students can hang out in the lobby during the parent session.
Fight the New Drug (FTND) is a secular organization which aims to be a voice of positivity and hope. It does not use shame or scare tactics. The organization exists to give individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using science, facts and personal accounts.
FTND believes that this generation of teens is dealing with the issue of pornography more than any other generation. Tens of millions of porn sites exist — with millions of videos free at the click of a button. More than 75 percent of porn is assessed on mobile devices, FTND reports.
The negative effects of porn use are widespread among teenagers around the world, FTND has found. Pornography is shown to contribute to depression, anxiety academic and emotional struggles. Many viewers don’t realize that viewing pornography rewires the brain, forming addictions and affecting behavior. Pornography contributes to depression, anxiety, academic and emotional struggles on a wide scale — across all teen demographics. It teaches them to objectify and use others. It affects their ability to have authentic relationships. It leaves them feeling confused, helpless and alone. It is harming people caught in the industry. It is driving human trafficking and other violent acts of crime.
More than 90 percent of youths ages 12-17 have been exposed to hardcore pornography, according to FTND. Once they’re exposed, many keep coming back. It is an industry that brings in more revenue than the National Football League, Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association combined.
FTND takes the stance that we live in a world where sexual exploitation and pornography are now accepted as harmless, natural and even normal. Countless people have bought into it, not having any clue of pornography’s harmfulness. FTND invites people to join in the fight with facts, combat lies with truth and to remember that real love is worth it. Upcoming generations are ready for a new kind of love, a love that is untainted by warped perceptions of intimacy and selfish desires.
FTND challenges parents and teens to take a stand and change the conversation around this issue using science, facts and personal accounts. The Dec. 5 presentations offer parents and young people an opportunity to learn about porn’s harmful effects on the brain, heart and world and to be empowered to talk about it without shame and to get free-access to help if struggling with an addiction.
The presentations are sponsored by St. Mary Parish in Solon. Questions about the event can be directed to the parish at (319) 624-2228.
(Julie Agne is the director of Religious Education for St. Mary Parish in Solon.)
