The recreational use of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs is becoming a serious problem. Medical professionals worry that young men taking these drugs recreationally may eventually become dependent on them to get and keep an erection.
Remember when there was a surge of college kids who didn’t have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) but were misusing ADHD drugs, such as Adderall and Ritalin, to supposedly “think better?”
Apparently, the fad has been replaced by a new one: misusing erectile dysfunction drugs to stay harder longer.
How Big Is the Problem?
A study published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior found that of nearly 2,000 male college students surveyed, 4 percent admitted to using ED drugs recreationally. The men weren’t taking the drugs to treat ED but rather to maintain erections longer.
Even worse, the majority of these men mixed the ED drugs with illegal drugs, engaged in risky sexual behaviors, and had more substance abuse, more sex partners, and a greater risk of sexually transmitted infection than nonabusers.
Medical professionals who’ve observed this trend fear that men who continually abuse ED drugs like Viagra for recreational purposes may become dependent on them, eventually requiring them just to get an erection. That could mean that even a young man could end up needing injections or penile implants to treat ED.
Where Do They Get the Drugs?
Although it’s hard to nail down exactly where men are getting these drugs, there are a couple theories. One is that men know enough about real ED symptoms to lie to a doctor and get a prescription. They can then get that prescription filled locally or online at a verified pharmacy. Another theory is that many men are buying ED drugs online at unverified pharmacies.
One search of 7,000 internet pharmacies found that only 4 percent were in complete compliance with the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program. What makes this especially dangerous is that these drugs may be unsafe, expired, or contaminated.
The bottom line is that ED drugs like Viagra should only be used under a doctor’s supervision and only for the treatment of impotence. Besides, who really needs a four-hour erection?
For men who are dealing with real symptoms of erectile dysfunction, oral ED drugs such as Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis can be the answer to a prayer. To safely order such drugs online, deal only with a reliable online facilitator such as eDrugstore.com. Based in Tempe, Arizona, eDrugstore carries a full range of ED medications, including both brand-name and generic products. To learn more, visit its Erectile Dysfunction page.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook