Houston-Based Study Reports Teen Misuse
of Erectile Dysfunction Drug
HOUSTON – (Sept. 11, 2007) – Curiosity, peer pressure and coercion by partners are among the reasons teenagers misuse a commonly prescribed medication for erectile dysfunction, according to a study led by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health.
Ronald J. Peters Jr., Dr.PH
The study, titled “Beliefs and Social Norms about Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) Misuse and Perceived Consequences among Houstonian Teen-age Males,” is published in the September issue of the American Journal of Men’s Health.
Principal investigator Ronald J. Peters Jr., Dr.PH, assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral science, interviewed 43 men between the ages of 18 and 19 who were participating in an outpatient drug treatment program.
All the teenagers stated that they were current Viagra® users. Forty-two percent cited curiosity as the reason they initially took the medication. Thirty percent of survey respondents said peer pressure led to their Viagra misuse, and 7 percent said their partners coerced them into taking sildenafil citrate. Only 19 percent reported taking Viagra for its intended use, which is to treat male impotence.
“This is a small study and may not be representative of what all teenagers are doing, but these findings illustrate that sildenafil citrate misuse may be viewed among some young men in treatment programs in the southwestern region of the United States as a normalized social event,” Peters said.
Advertisements and friends played a role in the teens’ exposure to Viagra, which is manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed said they first heard about Viagra from advertisements on television or at sporting events. Nineteen percent of those surveyed heard about the medication from friends. An overwhelming majority – 84 percent – reported that they were with friends or a girlfriend the first time they took sildenafil citrate.
The study also found a family connection to Viagra misuse. Thirty-two percent of teens first heard about the erectile dysfunction medication from their father or other family members. Also, 42 percent reported stealing sildenafil citrate from their father or grandfather. Nineteen percent said they obtained the prescription drug from other family members. Peters said these findings highlight the importance of securing prescriptions in the home so that teenagers do not have access to them.
“These kids are influenced by the messages they hear from their fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other family members,” Peters said. “When you tell jokes or talk casually about anything related to the topic of sex, kids are listening, and they are curious. Families need to make sure they are providing appropriate information and using opportunities to educate their children about healthy sexual behaviors.”
Peters said all the study participants revealed personal consequences of misusing sildenafil citrate. Most – 42 percent – reported prolonged, unwanted enhancement. Twenty-eight percent reported dizziness, and others experienced an uncomfortable rush or soreness.
“This research will help to further the understanding about selected teen-agers’ social norms and beliefs regarding sildenafil citrate and may assist in the prevention of initial consumption, which all too often leads to increased sexual events that could expose young men to sexually transmitted infections, medical consequences and other life-changing events,” Peters said.