Rexburg based group helps others fight pornography addiction

A local non-profit at BYU-Idaho recently conducted a survey of male and female students who view pornography and found that 45 percent of males watch pornography on a weekly basis.

Citizens for Decency was first started in Rexburg eight years ago, and founder Craig Cobia made it his mission to combat pornography addiction.

Cobia's passion developed when a woman approached him and told her the story of her husband who killed himself due to his pornography addiction.

The organization has since grown and interns are trying to spread the word.

A student and volunteer James Crook said BYU-Idaho is a religious school with high standards and people are still viewing porn.

"The survey was anonymous. And found that people had different opinions on what constituted for pornography addiction," Crooks said.

The survey included women and found that one out the 12 female students watched pornography on a weekly basis.
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Crook said there are a few ways to tell if you're addicted.

"If you're viewing it very regularly, especially if you want to stop and you can't then you know you're addicted. But I think that a lot of people don't know if they are or not," Crooks said.

A first-semester junior, Matthew Jensen said pornography addiction can harm you physically.

"Also, men in general sometimes can't perform sexually with their partner, they actually have to have pornography being viewed. Men have to have a computer screen up next to him because you aren't being fulfilled with his wife," Jensen said.

The non-profit has started a go fund me so they can hold conferences and reach out to more people in the community that need support.