GREG BARNETT
Staff Writer
Alcohol and drug abuse are common addictions in this country, but online pornography is becoming the new drug of the 21st century. Porn addiction can affect any person with an Internet connection. That, experts say, combined with more than 4.5 million pornographic Web sites and sex from the media have lured people into the addiction of online porn.
“Porn is very reinforcing,” said Robert Scholz, a professor and counselor at Pepperdine. “It creates euphoria.” Porn is often free on the Web and is accessible in private without anybody knowing. The danger or embarrassment of feeding other addictions does not exist for porn addicts.
College students are especially susceptible. The sex drive of 18-21- year-old men is extremely high. That, coupled with constant Internet access, causes temptation to satisfy the craving.
“The Internet and pornography are intoxicating,” said Scholz, in his article “Tackling Online Pornography Addiction.” “Sexual feelings usually feel great…and when they feel great, they serve as a powerful reinforcer for behavior.”
Pepperdine is no exception to the fact that college students are getting caught up and trapped by online porn.
“I look at porn every day,” said Steve (not his real name), a Pepperdine student. “But I don’t think I have a problem. I’m not doing anything wrong or illegal by looking at porn,” he said.
Steve is right. The Internet is open for anyone to look at porn. It is Steve’s choice to look at porn, and only users can decide if they have a problem.
For some it’s hard to realize that porn is affecting their lives, and if they do, it’s even harder to stop.
“It breaks my heart to see so many students gripped by pornography because they are great people striving for character and integrity,” said Ryan Bien, campus minister at Pepperdine. “They realize looking at porn is harmful and truly want to stop, but they struggle with breaking the habit.”
Porn can end active relationships and even marriage.
“I’ve seen marriages end due to pornography,” Scholz said. “The woman wants to know why you are not in to me.”
Porn can steer a person away from God and their spiritual faith.
“Internet porn can become a bondage that damages all aspects of a person’s life, including their faith,” Bien said. “Porn drags a person down, fostering guilt and brokenness. That state of mind will affect your spiritual life negatively.”
Scholz and experts say education is key to stopping porn.
Young people today are taught about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, but times are changing and nothing is being done to educate them on this new addiction in schools.
There are billboards and television commercials about alcohol and drugs but none on porn addiction. However, talking about porn addiction is not comfortable for most men.
“To get the dialogue started is very hard,” said Scholz.
If porn addiction doesn’t get out into the public eye then the problem is only going to get worse in years to come.
Churches and other organizations are working to get porn addiction into the public eye.
“Porn and Pancakes” is an event being held at churches around the country bringing together anybody from junior high to adults to come and talk about porn over a pancake breakfast.
It’s a laid back atmosphere to talk about the issues surrounding porn and to help the addicted realize they have a problem and need help.
These events are coordinated by XXXchurch.com, the same group that came to a Pepperdine convocation last year to shed light upon the pornographic industry to Pepperdine students.
Ada Bible Church in Ada, Mich., recently held a “Porn and Pancakes” event in December.
“It went pretty well,” said Edward Shepard, senior pastor of the congregation. “We filled our church with it.” The church not only filled up, but the results after the event were great as well.
“We received calls back from people saying that they needed help with porn addiction,” said Shepard next.
“People need to know that it is common to struggle with porn, that there are ways to overcome it, and support is available,” said Mr. Bien. Scholz, Bien and the staffs at the counseling center and campus ministries are available to help anyone in need with alcohol, drugs, porn addiction or anything else. Counseling is available on Pepperdine’s campus for students struggling with an addiction to pornography.
The Pepperdine Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on Towers Road across from Rho Parking Lot. To contact the Counseling Center, students can call ext. 4210 or e-mail them at student.counseling.center@pepperdine.edu.
Additionally, www.pornandpancakes.com has a calendar of upcoming events.
03-01-2007