LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL H.C.R. 5
6 Approved for Filing: A. Houston 6
6 01-17-24 10:38 AM 6
1 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO PROTECT THE NEXT
2 GENERATION FROM THE HARMS OF PORNOGRAPHY
3 2024 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Susan Pulsipher
6 Senate Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This resolution recognizes the negative impacts of pornography on the brain.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 < recognizes the negative impacts of pornography on the brain; and
14 < recognizes the need for education, prevention, and policy change to protect the next
15 generation from the harms of pornography.
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
18
19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
20 WHEREAS, pornography has been shown to affect brain function in ways similar to
21 drug addiction;
22 WHEREAS, viewing pornography activates the part of the brain called the reward
23 center, triggering the release of dopamine, a pleasure chemical, into the brain, which then
24 floods the brain with feelings of pleasure and positive reinforcement, comparable to the release
H.C.R. 5
25 of dopamine when illicit drugs are used;
26 WHEREAS, after the release of dopamine, the brain develops a preference for whatever
27 produced those feelings and rewires itself to find and experience those feelings again;
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28 WHEREAS, using illicit drugs or viewing pornography can create pathways within the
29 brain that lead to cravings, and those cravings can push consumers to search longer and more
30 diligently for the same level of pleasure;
31 WHEREAS, over time, excessive levels of dopamine causes the pornography
32 consumer's brain to develop a tolerance, similar to the brain of an illicit drug user;
33 WHEREAS, attempting to quit viewing pornography may lead to withdrawal symptoms
34 similar to illicit drugs;
35 WHEREAS, increased pornography use, similar to an increase in illicit drug use, may
36 lead to less connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other areas of the brain, which
37 indicates reduced judgment, decision making, or control over impulsive behavior;
38 WHEREAS, the impact on the functioning of the prefrontal cortex is enhanced in
39 adolescents due to a prefrontal cortex that is still maturing;
40 WHEREAS, a survey found that the most active pornography users are 18 to 34 years
41 old and that 57% of young adults actively seek out pornography frequently, as compared to
42 29% of adults older than 25;
43 WHEREAS, many children are first exposed to pornography between the ages of 9 and
44 13;
45 WHEREAS, in 2023 the Adult & Pornographic Websites industry in the United States
46 was on track to match the revenue of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA,
47 at $1.15 billion; and
48 WHEREAS, Pornhub, one of the largest websites dedicated to publishing pornography,
49 totaled over 2.14 billion visits during a single month in 2023 - more than Instagram, Netflix,
50 Pinterest, and Tiktok combined:
51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
52 Governor concurring therein, recognizes that pornography impacts the functioning of the brain
53 comparably to illicit drugs.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and Governor recognize the need
55 for education, prevention, research, and policy change in order to protect the next generation
56 from the pornography epidemic that is harming the people of our state and nation.
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