(Newswire.net — February 9, 2015) — According to the Washington Free Beacon who obtained the government contract, US Department of Defense spent half a million dollars to equip US troops with… Viagra.
No joke, the document cited by the WFB say the Pentagon awarded 60 contracts for the drug to Ohio-based pharmaceutical distribution company Cardinal Health Inc. spending $504,816 on the erectile dysfunction drugs in 2014.
Filed under ‘Troop Support’, the contract shows the Pentagon also ordered other brands of male enhancement drugs, such as $3,505 worth of Levitra and $14,540 of Cialis.
By way of comparison, the Pentagon in 2013 spent $425,000 on erection improvement pills, which is the huge leap from $8,000 spent the year before.
Viagra is the most popular of several names for Sildenafil, the powerful and most popular erectile dysfunction drug. It is also effective in the rare disease pulmonary arterial hypertension. It relaxes the arterial wall, leading to decreased pulmonary arterial resistance and pressure. This, in turn, reduces the workload of the right ventricle of the heart and improves symptoms of right-sided heart failure.
Sildenafil may be useful for the prevention and treatment of high-altitude pulmonary edema associated with altitude sickness such as that suffered by mountain climbers. Now, there isn’t much high altitude climbers amongst US troops, but there is a lot of depression and anxiety. In fact, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (aka PTSD, an anxiety disorder that follows experiencing a traumatic event) are the most common mental health problems faced by returning troops.
According to DoSomething.org, about 11 to 20% of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom) have been diagnosed with PTSD. 30% of soldiers develop mental problems within 3 to 4 months of being home. 55% of women and 38% of men report being victim to sexual harassment while serving in the military. An estimated 20% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans turn to heavy drinking or drugs once they return to the US. Between 10 and 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Possible consequences of this internal injury include anger, suicidal thoughts, and changes in personality.
So, how Viagra fits in this story other than 80,770 hours, 33 minutes, and 36 seconds of sexual enhancement estimated by the Washington Free Beacon?
The common side effect of antidepressants is erection dysfunction. In fact, sexual dysfunction is a potential side effect of all classes of antidepressants. Adding Viagra into the mix can resolve the sex life issues caused by antidepressants. It has been proven to help BOTH men and women with sexual dysfunction.
When the Pentagon orders a $500,000 worth Viagra, the real question that needs an answer is how many US troops are on antidepressants?