Is pornography the new cigarettes?

Is pornography the new cigarettes? According to some research, the answer is yes, prompting Utah officials to declare pornography a public health crisis.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - In the 1950s, nearly half of all Americans smoked cigarettes. There was little scientific evidence to suggest they were harmful, and most people found them to be very enjoyable. Cigarettes were a widely accepted vice until information emerged that showed just how dangerous cigarettes could be. Within decades,  cigarette use slowly declined, but it has been a major public health battle. Today, nearly 20 percent of Americans still smoke.

Pornography is as ubiquitous as cigarettes were in the 1950s. It's widely considered to be one of those things everybody does, even though they rarely talk about it. Researchers and trendspotters even look at pornography websites to gauge public opinion and attitudes on certain topics.

But the great question is, is it harmful?

For those of us who live and work in Southern California, the industry is a local affair. Most people know somebody who is involved in it, like any other form of show-business. Some in the industry tell us they like their work, the ersatz fame, and the pay that comes with it.

However, there is a dark underbelly to pornography that is rarely discussed. Abuse can be rampant, disease common. Children can be forced into the industry. Not everyone is willing. Many people are victimized by jilted lovers, hackers, and peeping toms.

And all of this goes without mentioning the moral consequences of pornography, which are frankly severe. Not only does pornography induce lust, it promotes adultery; indeed it is a form of adultery. The fact that two people may not touch, but share everything else, hardly diminishes the sin.

According to research, pornography can impair cognitive function and brain development, especially in children. It desensitizes spouses and is a known addiction. Could it be even worse than cigarettes?

Given the fact that pornography hurts far more people than it helps, the answer could be a definite yes.

The mainstream media has mocked a recent resolution passed in Utah that labels pornography a public health crisis. This is to be expected from the usual Babylonian street criers, and it is a sign the state's governor, Gary Herbert (R-UT) is on the right path.

The resolution also requires computer technicians to report child pornography they might find in the course of their work. None can object to that new rule.

Because Utah's measure is a resolution, it does nothing to infringe on freedom of speech, nor does it actually ban anything. However, it does bring public attention to the new public health crisis of our age.

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In a time when sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise, marriages are failing, and morals seem to be a political liability, Gov. Herbert and the sponsors of this resolution deserve praise. They are the builders of the Nehemiah Wall, laboring to protect our youth.

They are also pioneers, among the first to recognize that pornography is every bit a serious public health crisis as cigarettes. The sooner the rest of the nation realizes this, the healthier we will be. 

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