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Paragraph... Normal <P> Heading 1 <H1> Heading 2 <H2> Heading 3 <H3> Heading 4 <H4> Heading 5 <H5> Heading 6 <H6> Pre <PRE> Clear Formatting Font... Arial Verdana Time Courier Size...1234567 Color... Color... black darkslategray red maroon lightpink purple blue darkblue teal skyblue green seagreen olive orange darkgoldenrod gray   WYSIWYG Source Paying for an erection is not uncommon at all. Some men have paid $10, $15 and even $40 for the chance to have an erection for two to three hours at a time. Taking the little blue pill known as Viagra has become an everyday thing for some men who are in their early 20s and have no problems with erections. When the Food and Drug Administration approved Viagra in 1998, it was prescribed to combat impotence. Impotence is a consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. It can also be a tendency to sustain brief erections. It has been estimated that up to 30 million men in the United States suffer from some form of sexual dysfunction, but they are not the ones using non-prescribed Viagra at an alarming rate. John R. Ballew, a licensed clinical professional with a private practice in Atlanta, said the biggest problem with young men using Viagra is when they combine it with recreational drugs. Viagra is being used as a drug of choice for many young male partygoers. It is taken in connection with other party drugs such as Ecstasy and crystal meth. Problems arise because the drug prohibits decision-making and causes some sexual dysfunction. Viagra is then used to help gain an erection and increase performance, and in some cases, allow someone to perform with more than one person without losing the erection. "Ecstasy or crystal meth alter abilities to make good decisions, so someone may be able to perform, but they will not make good decisions, which leaves potential for unsafe sex," Ballew said. He also said using Viagra in connection with "poppers" leaves the potential for having a heart attack, even if the individual is perfectly healthy. Robby Reeves, a senior in administration of justice from Marion, said he did not know young men were taking Viagra, and said they are crazy for doing so, especially if they don't need it. "I don't see the point in taking [Viagra]," Reeves said. "The first thing I think about when I hear the word [Viagra] is old men; they are the ones who need it." Taking Viagra without having an impotence problem is not recommended because it can lead to an erection not going down and being very painful. If an erection last more than two to three hours, the blood vessels in the penis become damaged. The only way to get rid of the erection would be by going in for emergency treatment - maybe having some of the blood manually removed. Viagra is supposed to be available through prescription only, after a series of tests prove it is actually needed. But some Internet companies sell it to anyone after a short survey is completed. "Dealers" buy it online, then sell it on the street at nearly three times what was paid for it. Ballew said Internet companies get away with selling it online because it is relatively safe. He said if someone really needed it, they should talk to a doctor about all of the issues concerning use because on ine companies are only interested in selling the pills. "I can see why it is being sold," Paul Caravelli, a senior in advertising from Oakbrook, said. "People can make a lot of money off of it, so why wouldn't they?" Caravelli said no one he knows has or would use Viagra and the only way he would was if he was 60 years old and could not get it up. Sexual performance is a touchy subject and many men did not want to talk about themselves personally, but a couple did offer information that they themselves did not need Viagra because they perform perfectly fine. "I've never taken it," Reeves said. "I don't need it, everything is fine, but I would tell those who do not to, because a lot of young people don't know about Viagra so they don't know what they are doing." One of the reasons the medication is so popular is because it is generally safe, with only minor side effects. Ballew said the biggest problem is getting in the habit of having sex for the performance and not the connection. He said many men are concerned with what people think about their performance, so they will take it because they think it helps them look good. "They are taking it to be more like Superman more than anything else," Ballew said. It is usually stress and tension that may be the cause of sexual problems in young men, which are not reasons to use medication. Stress from a lack of communication with a partner, overwhelming stress from being a parent, or rejection from a former sexual partner are other causes of sexual problems, but using Viagra will not guarantee a cure for the problem. Kyle Matthews, a senior in industrial design from Cisne, said he does not see anything wrong with someone takes the pills to enhance performance. "I was thinking about taking it if I would be a superstar," Matthews said. "If someone wants to use it, I think that is fine." Matthews is not the only one who feels it is okay. While Caravelli said he hasn't tried it, it does not matter to him if someone wanted to because it is his or her decision. "If they're grown, they can do whatever they want," Caravelli said. "It's not that big of a deal." With reports of the drug allowing an erection to maintain for up to 12 hours, the misuse of Viagra is only the beginning. Eli Lilly and Co., the company that developed it, are working on another anti-impotence drug, which promises to last 24 to 36 hours. Reporter Samantha Robinson

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Young men are using sexual enhancers to keep erections longer in hopes of performing better.
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