US International preacher and author, John Piper, has revealed that new neurological research shows that the addictive nature of pornography has the same effect on the human brain, if not more, than cocaine or heroin.
Piper referred to an article released by Princeton University in the United States called the ‘New Narcotic’ and compares the prevalence of drug addiction to pornography. Addiction to pornography is spreading faster than drug use, he referred to stats from the US national survey which stated that there were 1.9 million cocaine users and 2 million heroin users in the United States compared to the shocking figure of 40 million regular users of online pornography.
Bennett added that Dopamine, released by the brain whilst watching porn, is the primary neurotransmitter that most addictive substances release in the body, causing a “high” in the brain. In addition to this it also causes the body to crave a repetition of that ‘high,’ rather than a subsequent feeling of satisfaction by way of endorphins.
It has been discovered that pornography changes the physical matter within the brain so that new neurological pathways require pornographic material in order to trigger the desired reward sensation. These addictive pathways than awaken craving for more ‘novel pornographic content like more taboo sexual acts, child pornography, or sadomasochistic pornography.
Bennet added that what’s even more dangerous is that substances can metabolize out of the body but pornographic images cannot be metabolized out of the brain because these images are stored in the brain’s memory.
Author Morgan Bennett recently quoted psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Satinover before US congress:
“With the advent of the computer, the delivery system of this addictive stimulus (Internet pornography) has become nearly resistance-free.”
“It is as though we have devised a form of heroin 100 times more powerful than before, usable in the privacy of one’s own home and injected directly to the brain through the eyes. It’s now available in unlimited supply via a self-replicating distribution network, glorified as art and protected by the Constitution.”
Piper who has now retired after 33 years in ministry and concluded by saying that God designed the interplay between the brain and the soul, God has the last word, the Holy Spirit has the greatest power. More control should be exerted on what we look at in accordance with Mathew 5:28 and that we are not mere victims of our eyes and our brains!
Posted Amanda Hopkins
