Viagra: Who's Really at Fault for Abuse of the Little Blue Pill?

Viagra is the most popular prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), or the inability to achieve or sustain an adequate erection. Erectile dysfunction most often occurs in men with health issues like diabetes and hypertension, and most often these men are over the age of 40. Viagra can assist these men in regaining an enjoyable sex life with their partners, when nothing else helps. Although Viagra doesn't work for 100% of men with erectile dysfunction, it works for a large percentage of them, which is why this medication is the number 1 prescribed ED treatment in the United States. Despite the fact that Viagra is for men who suffer from ED, research shows that more and more healthy, young men are requesting Viagra, but the question is, why? And why are doctors writing these men Viagra prescriptions?

Increasing amounts of men are using the drug Viagra for male enhancement purposes, instead of for its real purpose. These men are looking to achieve longer and stronger erections for "hours" of sex when they probably would only be able to perform for half the time or less. There's nothing wrong with a 20-30 minute lovemaking session, yet men are in constant competition with other men and feel as if they must "out-perform" one another. For many men, their sex life is their pride, and if at any time a man is unable to perform on a level that he believes he should, his self-esteem could suffer significantly, yet Viagra is not a way to fix the problem.

Most doctors who prescribe Viagra for men are simply doing their jobs. Unfortunately there is no way to determine if a man actually has a problem with ED or not, just as it is impossible to determine if a person is telling the truth about having severe pain in order to be prescribed an addictive narcotic like Vicodin. This is why it's so easy for a man to complain to his doctor about having difficulties attaining or sustaining an erection, and since doctors are there to help patients to live better, healthier lives, the doctor will then write the prescription for the drug.

The media should certainly take some of the blame, as doctors certainly aren't at fault for this growing epidemic, although, of course, doctors are the ones who write the prescription. If you pay attention to current commercials for ED drugs, you will realize that the pharmaceutical companies appear to be marketing to younger men, making promises of increased performance, although in a subtle manner. Drug companies know that it's illegal to market Viagra or similar drugs for any other reason than what it is FDA approved for, so they do it indirectly, although more and more men are getting the message. Unfortunately, these commercials are contributing to Viagra abuse and obsession without intending to-or are they?

Viagra is nothing to play around with, and taking Viagra with nitrates can be deadly. For the people that choose to order Viagra online without a prescription, which by the way is illegal, it is quite dangerous. There's no way to be sure that what they're getting is actually Viagra, and a person could really be risking their live. Perhaps doctors shouldn't so quick to prescribe Viagra, especially if a younger, seemingly healthy man requests the drug. Since ED could signify a serious medical condition, a doctor should have the man undergo rigorous testing before even considering writing a prescription for the little blue pill that so many man look upon as a miracle. So, who can really be blamed for Viagra abuse? The men who abuse the drug must certainly take some responsibility, and of the pharmaceutical companies. Some doctors could really be at fault as well, for simply giving men easy access to the drug; however, the doctors shouldn't be used as scapegoats when it comes to this growing problem.

References

For Men: Viagra - http://www.4-men.org/viagra/viagra-for-recreational-sex.html

Medline Plus: Erectile Dysfunction - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/erectiledysfunction.html