Health experts are raising concerns over the widespread use of unregulated sexual stimulants across West Africa, warning of severe and sometimes life-threatening health risks for men who consume them.
According to a New York Times investigation, products marketed as “100 percent natural herbal remedies” are in fact causing dangerous side effects, including uncontrollable drooling, migraines, prolonged and painful erections, and increased risk of heart attacks.
Public health authorities in Ivory Coast discovered that Attoté, a popular beverage marketed as a natural aphrodisiac, contains sildenafil—the active ingredient in Viagra—at concentrations up to eight times the recommended dose.
Officials say the pills, often manufactured in India and smuggled into the country, are crushed and mixed with other substances to create the drink, which sells locally for as little as $1.50.
Despite being advertised as all-natural, these stimulants are also sold internationally.
On platforms like Amazon and Walmart, Attoté is marketed without ingredient disclosure and priced at $15 in France and $20 in the United States.
The United Nations estimates that nearly half of all drugs circulating in West Africa are unregulated, contributing to as many as 500,000 deaths annually.
Sexual stimulants, including Attoté, are among the most commonly reported.
Although Ivory Coast suspended the production of Attoté earlier this year over concerns of false advertising and potential fatalities, demand for the drug remains high across the region.
