Monday, July 16, 2007

The blue pill that's good for the economy

The widespread use of Viagra seems to be causing significant problems, according to a long article in The Times. Some young idiots find it necessary to counter the effects of ecstacy:
Hayley, a 24-year-old fast-track civil servant, said men in her social circle take Viagra because it counters the effect of cocaine and ecstasy, which raise lust but cause impotence. “By about 3am you might have run out of everything else, so you might get two girls and a guy, or maybe a bigger group, taking Viagra and going off to have sex for the next three hours. With Viagra, guys can do it again and again.
So it would seem, according to a young man who gets it from a mate who fools his GP into giving him scripts:
“With Viagra you can do it four or five times in a row,” says Olly. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be completely crap at sex without it, but it puts your mind at rest that you’ll be able to perform.”
Even at the lust filled age of 24, there is something seriously wrong with wanting to "do it four or five times in a row", isn't there? I presume that the other recreational drugs might have something to do with the desire, as Hayley said.

The article goes on to explain that Vaigra use, and the husband's subsequent pressuring of the wife to have sex, is being increasing cited in divorce cases. Sounds plausible.

Yet there are doctors who won't have any of this talk of a downside:
John Dean, a doctor specialising in sexual medicine in London who took part in the original trials of Viagra, insists that its use has brought happiness to millions of couples, saved the cost of treating epidemics of depression and other illnesses linked to mental health, and allowed many men to increase their economic productiveness.
Finally, the key to never ending economic growth. I like this part too:
Pfizer is trying to persuade the Department of Health to allow routine NHS prescription of the drug, and it is developing a programme to help GPs recognise erectile dysfunction.
"Hullo, hullo, hullo. What's this we've got here? Erectile dysfunction I do believe. Wouldn't have recognized that unless Pfizer told me what to look for.."

All very interesting.

2 comments:

Caz said...

"Back in my day ..."

... 24 year old guys could do it 4 or 5 times in a row without thinking, so could men of 34 yrs, for that matter. (With or without speed or cocaine.)

Amphetamines don't affect ability to get an erection, just the opposite.

I can only figure they're doing something wrong, or what they claim to be cocaine is a mix of 1% speed and 99% crushed vitamin D. (In other words, the people they interviewed have no idea what's in the drugs they're taking.)

As for Viagra - sure, it's so successful that of all the drugs in the world it's the one that is LEAST likely to have repeat prescriptions filled. Much more than 50% don't bother to try it a second time around. (I think one script only gets 4 or 6 of the pills?)

Much of their sales must stem from first, and last time, buyers, followed by young dimwits who are using the stuff 5 decades before they *need* it, which must, surely, affect their natural performance (or their perceptions of enjoyment) soon enough.

Steve said...

Caz, I guess it all depends on what what time frame one means when talking of a number of times "in a row". I don't want to go any further other than to say I would be surprised if there are many men out there of the unaided stamina you suggest was once common place, if we are talking of (say) something like a 4 to 5 hour period.