In the cult classic film The Matrix, the question of which pill to take illustrates the personal decision to either live in ignorance (bliss) or choose reality, which brings with it a life of struggle. In one of Hollywood's most memorable scenes Morpheus offers Neo a choice between two pills. The red pill will answer the question of truth specifically, "what is the Matrix?" (by freeing his mind) and the blue pill will keep him in blissful ignorance. Morpheus tells Neo, "You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes....". As Neo reaches for the red pill Morpheus warns Neo, "Remember, all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." The quagmire of wanting to purposely live a lie Vs the responsibility, which comes with knowledge, is deeply compelling and most can personally attest that bliss is easier.

Despite talk by the hip-hop generation that they would choose the red pill if given the choice, the truth is that the blue pill is being swallowed at an alarming rate. I am speaking of "The Blue Pill" in both the symbolic and the actual coinage of the term.

There is a not so secret trend taking place in cities across America. When it first hit my radar 3 years ago I laughed it off as nothing but a silly anomaly or a glitch in the normalcy of things. It came to me in the form of a news report when, then 32 year old Irv Gotti was arrested during an R. Kelly concert in Oakland, California for possessing ecstasy. Also in his possession were prescription tablets of Viagra. I chuckled to myself that he's merely 32 years old and "can't get it up", does he have prostate cancer already? - what a shame. Tough talk and impotency didn't seem to go together I thought, as I flipped through the paper.

I now realize that chances are that although it was a prescription issue, Gotti probably simply told his doctor he was having erectile issues so that he could get Viagra and the Doctor just gave it to him without much inquiry. According to former paramour Karrine "Superhead" Stephens description, Irv Gotti is a sex addict. Which leads me to conclude that he was likely using Viagra to improve his performance. It's no longer just old guys or sick guys that taking Viagra, young men are taking it and other sexual dysfunction drugs to improve their sexual stamina.

Go into any urban corner store and you will find imitation versions of Viagra and other erectile pills on display next to condom racks or other pills like Tylenol etc. One doctor said, "This medicine is everywhere, almost like candy."

It's a different era and today most women have no problem discussing how wack or great a man performs sexually. To alleviate this pressure and anxiety young men are turning to drugs.

The problem is that although this drug works on young and old alike. Young people don't need it and the trade off for young people is much more dangerous. If I were 75 and had a erectile problem, I would likely not worry as much about some of the side effects of taking the blue pill versus if I am 25. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) medicine is a billion dollar industry and therefore not many people are reporting on the blue pill's documented problems. Pharmaceutical lobbyists have made sure to get their positive spin on Viagra's side effects disseminated in media to make sure the bad press doesn't affect their hefty cash flow. These lobbyists also like to dismiss non-pharmaceutical ED remedies of the past such as herbal teas and acupuncture because they can't financially capitalize off of natural "cures".

So here's the truth that you may not have heard. Currently Federal health authorities are investigating whether Viagra and other impotency drugs may, in rare cases, cause blindness. The issue arose recently after the FDA announced it is investigating 43 reports of varying degrees of vision loss, including blindness, among users of the drugs: 38 among Viagra users, four among Cialis users, and one of a Levitra user, said FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan.

In addition, Dr. Howard Pomeranz of the University of Minnesota reported that seven men, ages 50 to 69, developed sudden vision loss within 36 hours of taking Viagra. He said users of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs particularly should be aware of possible vision problems if they have heart-related problems that put them at risk of a stroke. The condition identified in the reports is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy - which is best described as "a stroke of the eye," because it involves the optic nerve, a part of the brain.

In addition Viagra can make your body dependent on it, if you overuse it. This misuse may require you to pop a pill before you can get a full erection. Sometimes erections wont go down for hours, which is very inconvenient, especially when your partner has to leave and get on with her day, and you are home alone.

Here's the hardcore (no pun intended) facts. Older men {55 plus} have two types of problems with erections. Some men cannot get an erection that is strong enough or hard enough for them to be able to have intercourse with their partner. Other men have a problem maintaining their erection during intercourse. They go soft before they can achieve ejaculation. In each case the solution is to see a doctor. Some doctors wont go through the trouble they once did and probe into your diet, the amount of rest you are getting and stress in your life, (all big factors) they will just give you Viagra and call it a day.

Younger men have two types of problems. Premature ejaculation (usually 25 and under) that's when your woman is always saying "that's it" or "you came already" and Slow re-cooperation (26 plus) which is when the penis goes out of commission for a long time after ejaculation despite various stimuli. No doctor should be prescribing Viagra to a 26-year-old man but with the influence of deep pocketed pharmaceutical industry they might be. Truth is, no matter how much of a sexual stud a man is, chances are he will experience some sexual dysfunction at some point in his life even if it's just for a week. Keeping in mind that failure to get an erection is often created or made worse by anxiety. If other worries and anxieties are on your mind, your body won't relax and you won't get aroused sexually. Your thoughts and feelings directly affect your sexual response.

Ultimately the key for young people is not to blissfully swallow another blue pill of illusion. The key to better performance is having love in the relationship or some type of deep intimate connection. This is a red pill solution. As men we must focus on relaxing. Enjoy what is happening, I hate to sound corny but enjoy touching, hugging and caressing, and all foreplay this is ultimately what turns women on and that is what they brag to their friends about. If you are doing those things the only competition is yourself. The more relaxed you learn to become, the more your body will eventually respond sexually.

Older men have already realized that love and sex don't mean the same thing. A man and woman can cuddle, touch, stroke and be intimate with each other without having to have sexual intercourse. I can't believe I am saying this but physical intercourse is just a small and not even an absolutely necessary part of lovemaking between a man and a woman. Most important are the feelings and affections that accompany whatever level of sexual intimacy they choose or are able to share. These my friends are red pill solutions and in this love matrix we are all like Neo, The chosen ones - Nuf said.

Released: September 8th, 2005

The views and opinions expressed herein by the author do not necessarily represent the opinions or position of Playahata.com.