Fight the New Drug
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Founded | 2009 |
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Founders | Clay Olsen, Ryan Werner, Cameron Lee, Beau Lewis |
Location | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Slogan | Porn Kills Love. |
Mission | Raising awareness of the potential harmful effects of pornography |
Website | www.fightthenewdrug.org |
Fight the New Drug (FTND) is an American anti-pornography 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009. It focuses on educating youth and raising awareness on what the organization considers the harmful effects of pornography.[1] They are primarily known for billboard campaigns claiming that "porn kills love," as well as citing scientific studies instead of religious doctrine. Although the group was founded and is headed by Mormons[2][3] and takes a similar hard-line stance against all pornography, they claim a non-religious identity and motivation.[4][5]
History
According to the organization, its name derives from its belief that pornography is the new drug in today's society.[6]
Overview
Fight the New Drug defines itself as "pro healthy sex and anti-pornography."[6] Its mission is to educate and raise awareness on its findings, as well as sharing the personal experiences of those who have been affected in their relationships and generally.[7]
The organization uses personal accounts, summaries of scientific research and social commentary to educate its target audience of youth, particularly millennials. It does not seek to ban pornography or make it illegal, or argue against its use through moral or theological arguments, but to inspire and enable youth to cease consuming pornography through education and awareness.[8] The organization promotes the results of studies which show changes in the brain of an individual when viewing pornographic material, though the selected studies have been contested.[5][8]
Support
In May 2015, actor Terry Crews posted a picture on his social media channels promoting Fight the New Drug and wearing the organization's popular "Porn Kills Love" T-shirt.[9][10] Crews has publicly supported Fight the New Drug in other social media posts since.[11]
In July 2015, Neon Trees drummer Elaine Bradley sported her own homemade "Porn Kills Love" T-shirt while performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers.[12][13]
On August 19, 2016, Fight the New Drug released a world exclusive interview with Elizabeth Smart.[14] Smart spoke in-depth for the first time about the role pornography played in her abduction and abuse, which is largely held as one of the most widely covered child abduction cases of the century. Speaking about pornography's role in her abuse, she said in the interview: "It just led to him raping me more, more than he already did — which was a lot. ... I can't say that he would not have gone out and kidnapped me had he not looked at pornography. All I know is that pornography made my living hell worse."[15] The video, originally released on Fight the New Drug's YouTube channel, quickly went viral and became a trending topic on Facebook. The video was picked up by NBC News, Daily Mail, Us Weekly, Deseret News, and several other local news outlets.[16][17] This is an example of the evidence the organization often uses, focused on personal testimony.
References
- ↑ Lynn Arave (26 January 2010). "Group is fighting against 'the new drug' — pornography". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ Hamblin, James. "How One State Declared Pornography a 'Public-Health Crisis'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ↑ Cauterucci, Christina (2016-04-20). "Utah Declares Porn a "Public Health Crisis," Furthering a Mormon Myth About Porn Addiction". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ↑ "Anti-Porn Group Brings Billboard Campaign To Bay Area". CBS San Francisco. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- 1 2 "Here's the deal with all those 'Porn Kills Love' billboards around the Bay Area". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- 1 2 "» About Fight the New Drug". Fight the New Drug. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ "Get the Facts". Fight the New Drug. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- 1 2 "Fight the New Drug: The online grassroots war against pornography". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ "Instagram photo by Terry Crews • May 7, 2015 at 4:28pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ↑ "Terry Crews, muscle-bound actor and Old Spice guy, reveals porn addiction". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BClQCnqtpmp/?taken-by=terrycrews
- ↑ "Instagram photo by Elaine Bradley • Jul 23, 2015 at 4:16pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ↑ Petersen, Sarah. "Neon Trees represent BYU, Fight the New Drug on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ↑ http://fightthenewdrug.org/elizabeth-smart-speaks-for-the-first-time-about-pornographys-role-in-her-abduction-video/
- ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/elizabeth-smart-her-captivity-pornography-made-my-living-hell-worse-n635066
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3750006/Elizabeth-Smart-relives-horrific-nine-month-ordeal-hands-captor-blames-craven-addiction-pornography-depravity.html
- ↑ http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/elizabeth-smart-opens-up-about-abductors-porn-addiction-w435436