Written by Maggie Samples // Photo by Briley Kemper
Harding Healthy Eating Active Living and Women of Faith hosted Fight the New Drug, an organization promoting education about pornography, in the Benson Auditorium. The seminar, which took place Tuesday, was the first time representatives from the organization had spoken in Arkansas.
Fight the New Drug communications manager Parker Hymas presented for Fight the New Drug and encouraged students to consider the consequences for themselves and others before consuming pornography.
“We want you to talk to someone if you’re struggling and to have these conversations generally, whether or not you’re struggling,” Hymas said. “You’re not alone; there [are] resources, support and help available.”
Hymas’ presentation focused on the impacts of pornography on an individual, their relationships and the world.
Hymas said pornography changes brain function due to neuroplasticity and the relationship between the reward system and the prefrontal cortex. He also discussed the negative effects that pornography has on romantic relationships and their longevity. His last point was that pornography promotes racism, hurts women and is impossible to make ethically.
Fight the New Drug relied on peer reviewed research from trusted academic institutions for the facts in the presentation.
“We’re a non-religious, non-legislative nonprofit, and our mission is allowing individuals to make an informed decision on the topic of pornography by raising awareness of its harmful effects using only science facts and personal accounts,” Hymas said.
Hymas emphasized that the presentation was not to criticize but to inform and offer help to those who might be struggling with an addiction to pornography.
“We’re going to have a healthy conversation about pornography,” Hymas said. “We’re not going to shame anyone or make anyone feel bad. I want to be clear about that. Instead, we’re here to have a healthy conversation about porn’s potential impacts.”
University ambassador Lisa Williams discussed the impact pornography has on relationships.
“It has everything to do with women of faith,” Williams said. “If we have unhealthy men, if men have an addiction to porn, it builds a terrible landscape for an unhealthy relationship, and the same thing for women.”
Williams said the purpose of the talk was to spread awareness and share information. She said she hoped people would be more open to helping others after the discussion.
Assistant Director of the Center for Professional Excellence Cindi Ingram spoke in chapel on Monday about her personal experience with pornography.
On Tuesday night, the night of the presentation, Ingram said the purpose of the lecture was to create a “community of care.”
“We know that it’s accepted in our culture,” Ingram said. “We want to give students information to let them know the harms so they can make more informed decisions instead of allowing this to roll over them.”
Resources for fighting a pornography addiction or learning more can be found at https://fightthenewdrug.org/resources/ and the documentary “Brain, Heart, World” can be found free to watch at brainheartworld.org.
