In 2014, the U.S. Department of Defense spent $84.24 million on drugs for erectile dysfunction, which is when a man cannot maintain an erection for the purpose of engaging in sexual activities. Out of the 1.18 million prescriptions that were filled in that particular period of time, 905,083 were for Viagra at a cost of $41.6 million and 185,841 were for Cialis at a cost of $22.82 million while the rest were for six other drugs covered under the program.
These expenses should be considered part of a pattern, as shown by the fact that the U.S. Department of Defense spent a total of $294 million on drugs for erectile dysfunction from 2011 to 2014.
To understand the U.S. Department of Defense’s spending on erectile dysfunction, it is important to note that the medical condition can happen for both physical and psychological reasons. For example, physical causes of erectile dysfunction range from aging to acute injuries, while psychological causes of the same include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that more than half of the active-duty servicemen who suffered from erectile dysfunction did so from psychological rather than physical causes, though in truth, said individuals made up less than 10 percent of the prescriptions. The rest went to retired servicemen as well as family members of servicemen who were entitled to the benefits, which makes sense when age has such a strong correlation with the chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction.
On a final note, the U.S. Department of Defense launched a number of initiatives to reduce its spending on prescription drugs in response to this as well as similar occurrences. One example was mandating that eligible people get their long-term prescriptions through lower-cost options such as mail and military treatment facilities. However, healthcare costs remain an issue for them as well as the rest of the country.