http://www.christianexaminer.com/ DallasTexas — In an effort to curb a growing crisis of pornography addiction among the college-aged and teens, two new national initiatives targeting young addicts were announced Sept. 13.
Officials at Pure Online, an online resource for recovery programs, said the program is the first of its kind in the country
"It’s a massive problem," Brandon Cotter, Pure Online’s founder and chief executive officer said in a news release. "Our research indicates hundreds of thousands of young people have significant problems with pornography. The problem infects more than a million men in the United States and probably more than double that if you count college and high-school aged young men and women."
Launched just last year, Pure Online’s program for married men has already begun to help nearly a thousand men from 18 different countries. The curriculum is designed to "jump-start" the recovery process, not replace other forms of counseling and therapy.
One key aspect to the Christian-based program, Cotter said, is that Pure Online workshops are delivered confidentially, allowing the user to cover the expense through a secure and anonymous manner on its Web site.
The Singles Edition for girls is the first of its kind, Cotter said, noting the market for programs that help women—and especially youth—deal with the issue of pornography and sex addiction has been way behind in providing solutions.
"We get some of our most aggressive e-mails from women who are angry at us for ‘leaving them out’ and just offering solutions for the men," he said.
On deck are similar programs for spouses of addicts, a workshop for church pastors and other religious leaders, and a workshop that will coach parents on how to deal with a child that is struggling with pornography.
The Dallas-based Pure Online was founded in 2004 to help shrink the "recovery gap," the chasm between the number of people that are struggling with purity-related issues and the relatively small number that are actually getting help.
The company offers three online workshops, one for married men and two new workshops—one for young women and one for young men, each feature teaching from eight different speakers, authors, counselors, and pastors.
For more information, visit pureonline.com.