A New Year, New Connections
The Urgent Need for Community-Based Solutions
As we step into 2026, it’s time to come together and create programs that help young people build meaningful connections. Without trusted adult mentors who can listen to their stories, anxieties, joys, and fears, children may feel isolated and disconnected. If they are expected to suppress their emotions rather than understand and manage them, the consequences can be severe.
This isolation often leads them to seek solace in substances like drugs and alcohol, as well as in screens and particularly pornography. When kids don’t have the tools to cope with their emotions or the support to ask questions, they become vulnerable to addiction. Broken and dysfunctional families contribute to this cycle, creating children who may grow up to become adults struggling with addiction.
Once addicted, these individuals often face harsh consequences such as arrest and incarceration. Their lives and families can be devastated, leading to homelessness, joblessness, social ostracization, and even suicide. They are labeled for life and must register as offenders until their death. Public scrutiny and online shaming further compound their suffering, and they may even be denied long-term care in old age. These individuals live in constant fear, as their lives and their families’ lives are often threatened.
Prevention and Treatment: A Community Effort
Prevention and treatment can begin right in our communities. Public service announcements can raise awareness about the dangers of addiction and highlight that recovery is possible. Nearly every addict wants to escape their addiction, so education is key. We need to teach all members of society the value and worth of every human being and stop reducing people to objects.
Focusing on raising emotionally healthy children is essential. Kids who can manage their emotions and control their impulses are less likely to become addicted and better equipped to handle life’s challenges. By addressing emotional health early, we can prevent many of the issues that lead to addiction.
Breaking the Stigma
It’s important to remove the stigma surrounding addiction. Alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions are treatable, and so is this one. Brain imaging and science show that the brain can form new neural pathways during a 90-day reset. This process, combined with building positive social connections and accountability partnerships, offers hope for recovery.
The lack of connection is a major driver of addiction. However, our current approach isolates individuals in prison, cutting off their social ties even further. Society often doesn’t allow for second chances, which only deepens the cycle of despair.
Stephanie Jerstad, an assistant professor of criminology at Millersville University, notes that the Department of Justice agrees that sex offenders are less likely to reoffend, and recidivism decreases with age. Despite the $14 billion power and money tied to the pornography industry, if people would stop consuming it and reduce demand, we could combat this destructive force.
The Impact of Pornography
Pornography desensitizes dopamine receptors in the brain, stunting its growth. It keeps users from maturing emotionally, solving life’s problems, and contributing meaningfully to the world. For teens and pre-teens, whose brains are still developing, exposure to pornography can lead to lifelong struggles with addiction.
Resources and Support
There are certified therapists available, along with books and online resources that help prevent and combat this disorder. Organizations like Fight The New Drug offer school programs and assemblies for teens and parents. Facebook groups such as Parenting in a Tech World and faith-based ministries like Pure Desire and Be Broken also provide effective support.
Churches, parents, communities, and even the police need to collaborate to find solutions. While prevention may not bring in revenue or promotions, it is crucial for the future of our children and society.
Moving Forward
Let’s start setting up safety nets instead of traps. Let’s make this world a better place. We can do much better, and we must start now.
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