Pornography in the military

It is estimated that 20% of active duty military members are addicted to pornography and that consumption of pornography among military members is much higher than those of their civilian counterparts.  This can be partly due to long deployments and a predominantly male population.  Pornography is one of the biggest problems facing the military today.  It is beginning to surpass drug and alcohol abuse among military members; it has become the new drug of choice.
We have all been made aware of  the epidemic of sex crimes being committed within the military through the media.  It is nothing new to the military, only that now it is being brought out into the light .  But the military needs to do more than just discharge their service members from duty.  The service MUST help its members deal with this addictive health problem, as they do for those who abuse substances such as drugs and alcohol, and their current prevention training is not enough.   Leaders need to become available and approachable for service members to confide in them about their problem before their careers, lives and families are destroyed.  Simply put, pornography should not be able to be accessed by government computers.  But changing just the conditions or the environment alone is not enough; people need help in order to change.

It has been said that pornography is to sex addiction what crack cocaine is to drug addiction.  When the brain receives the images of pornography, adrenaline is released into the blood stream. The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus then secrete endorphins to produce dopamine which opens the pleasure centers of the brain.  Too much dopamine in the brain is said to cause the addiction.  Studies have even shown that persons, both normal and unbalanced, who view pornography develop a craving for more and more deviant material. There has also been proven a direct link between pornography consumption and commission of sex crimes.  Hence the spike in sexual assault cases within the military.

Pornography shapes beliefs and behaviors about sex.  It poses danger because it assaults human beings emotional psyche, of both the user and those close to them, especially a spouse.  It also poses danger to the abuser because it causes physical addictions similar to hard drugs.

You would be foolish to scoff and think that pornography is healthy or cures loneliness when one is away from family, or to ignore well documented risks associated with it.  You would also be foolish to ignore it if it's happening to you or someone you love, if it's important to you to save precious relationships.  The adversary is waging a war against families, and civilizations with pornography quite simply because it destroys.  As far as the military goes, now is the time to begin a serious anti-pornography campaign before more of our hero's are lost to this drug.  It doesn't have to be this way.

 There is hope however, which is why I began this blog.  To help my self, and to help others out there who might be directly or indirectly affected by this epidemic.  God has power to heal and to save.  There are many programs out there, such as the Addiction Recovery Program given by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that help people suffering and causing others to suffer because of an addiction.

I was afraid before to say anything.  Afraid of people's judgements, afraid to admit that this problem affects my life by a loved one, afraid that there would be nothing I could do to help.  But we don't need to be afraid.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." Romans 1:16