Ukmedix has previously reported on the issue of many health professionals thinking that the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra is being perceived as a lifestyle drug and not as a serious medication for people with an impotence problem. Recently a very high profile organisation namely the AIDS Healthcare Foundation which is the biggest AIDS group in the United States as well as a provider of HIV and AIDS medical help to many AIDS sufferers in the US, Africa, Central America and Asia came out criticising the company that makes Viagra, Pfizer for adding to the HIV/AIDS problem by promoting the drug as a lifestyle drug for recreational use in its latest advertising campaign.

Pfizer has been agressively been fighting back for some of its market share using advertising that critics feel broadens the definition of Erectile Dysfunction which the drug is licenced to treat by the FDA in the United States. The advertisements which originally used the tag line 'Viagra can help guys with all levels of erectile dysfunction whether mild or severe', now has become 'Viagra is prescribed for all degrees of ED, even if it only happens once in a while'. The emphasis is clearly that Viagra can help people who have very rare and mild erectile dysfunction that is quite normal with age.

The critics continue by saying that Pfizer are deliberately flouting the rules on the licencing from the FDA with regard to the promotion of prescription medicines and are trying to promote Viagra to people who don't really need it in order to boost market share. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation pointed out that the occassional inability to get an erection does not mean that you neccessarily suffer from erectile dysfunction and that Pfizer were trying to promote the drug for performance anxiety and that this was irresponsible and dangerous.

Research seems to show that the widespread use of and abuse of recreational sex drugs such as crystal methamphetamine and Viagra has caused the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV in America to increase. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation says that Pfizer must pull these advertisements of the air, stop the adverts being directed straight to the consumer and stop its adverts that portray Viagra as a fun drug.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has formally written to the FDA requesting that they look at the Viagra adverts again and consider the effect that removing the adverts would have on the public health of the nation. Another letter was also sent to the Pfizer boss urging the same thing.