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Not long ago, Garrett Jonsson ran 30 marathons in 30 days while wearing handcuffs to raise awareness on the harms of pornography. Little did we know, he was just getting started.
It wasn’t long after that Garrett reached out to us and told he was setting out for his biggest feat yet: biking across the United States to raise awareness on the harms of pornography. Here’s how it went:
Beginning in Yorktown, Virginia, Garrett’s journey ended up spanning 3,800 miles across nine states in 56 days. Insane, right?
On each leg of Garrett’s trek, he dragged heavy chains behind his bike to symbolize the weight of pornography on individuals and society. He did all this while wearing a Porn Kills Love tee, which he had people sign as he shared the word throughout his ride about Fight the New Drug and the harms of porn.
He eventually ended his journey in San Francisco, California, at the Golden Gate Bridge with his wife who walked the last three miles with him.
All in all, he estimates he handed out hundreds of Porn Kills Love fact cards while averaging 67 miles per day on his bike.
So, what inspired Garrett to make this incredible journey and spread the word on the harmful effects of pornography across the country?
Watch Garrett’s story, linked above, which details his past struggle with pornography and why he decided to fight for love instead.
Garrett with his wife at the end of his journey on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Need help?
For those reading this who feel they are struggling with pornography, you are not alone. Check out Fortify, a science-based recovery platform dedicated to helping you find lasting freedom from pornography. Fortify now offers a free experience for both teens and adults. Connect with others, learn about your unwanted porn habit, and track your recovery journey. There is hope—sign up today.
Fight the New Drug may receive financial support from purchases made using affiliate links.
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
This is why Fight the New Drug exists—but we can’t do it without you.
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Will you join us? We’re grateful for whatever you can give—but a recurring donation makes the biggest difference. Every dollar directly supports our vital work, and every individual we reach decreases sexual exploitation. Let’s fight for real love: