Q&A: I am worried that my son has developed an addiction to pornography, but he is such a good kid, I am hesitant to have him participate as I worry he may be exposed to youth with deeper problems.

It has been our experience that the vast majority of teens and young adults who pursue treatment for pornography addiction are good kids with a strong desire to uphold strong moral standards.  Their inability to shake the habit of viewing pornography weighs heavily on their conscious and this is a primary motivator for participating in the program.  Many of the youth who have participated in the program have been LDS youth who are working toward serving a mission or returned missionaries who have slipped back into the addiction.

Youth who lack a desire to live a morally clean life or uphold high standards typically do not pursue treatment for pornography addiction.  They simply do not see a problem with viewing pornography and are in denial regarding the destructive influence that pornography has on their thinking and behavior.  It is difficult to compel a youth who does not see a problem with viewing pornography to engage in a recovery problem for pornography addiction.

Our experience has been the opposite in terms of problems resulting from youth being exposed to other youth with more problematic behaviors.  Exposure to other youth in the program actually proves to be helpful and not harmful as group members’ support and strengthen each other in their efforts to achieve a recovery from the addiction.  It also is helpful for youth to recognize that they are not alone in their battle with the addiction, but that other young people who are also “good kids” are struggling with the same issue.