Fighting pornography: Group warns about dangers of 'new drug'

Students slowly filed into the auditorium at South Hills Middle School on Oct. 26.

It was a typical assembly — music played, a screen was set up and the lights dimmed as teachers told their students to quiet down a bit. The teens chattered excitedly, glad to be out of the classroom for a little while and wondering what the assembly was all about.

It was the Riverton middle school's Red Ribbon Week, so the assembly was expected to be all about drugs. The students weren't there to learn about tobacco and alcohol, though. They were there to learn about a "new" drug: pornography.

Fight the New Drug (FTND) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that does just what its name says it does: It exists to fight pornography with drug science, educating in ways that include assemblies like the one at South Hills.

It began in Logan when four friends and business students at Utah State University got together one night in 2006 to discuss entrepreneurial endeavors. The conversation eventually turned to fighting pornography. Cam Lee, Clay Olsen, Ryan Werner and Beau Lewis started putting some ideas together. Each took turns working full time on the project, juggling school and other full-time jobs while they were at it. In 2009, they were granted nonprofit status, and FTND officially launched its efforts in early 2010.

Back in their new Salt Lake City office, three of the four founders, all in their late 20s now, discussed their passion for the organization. The yellow, black and red walls, which the men painted themselves, match the website and logo. There's a makeshift movie studio in the back and an interior design company across the hall. They talked about their varied motivation behind the work that brought them to where they are today.

Each of the founders is united by the desire to somehow contribute to society in a way that will help the next generation of young people. They've found some facts and felt compelled to share, no matter the work or sacrifice. Werner, for example, worked full time on getting the organization going for about a year without a paycheck.

Olsen had an extra personal driving force. He recounted the story of a family member who had become addicted to pornography at 8 years old. The addiction led to loss of a job, loss of family and a prison sentence.