D.C. officials are buying Trojan condoms to give away to high school students and college-age adults.

[teko]

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 21, 2010

High school students and college-age adults have been complaining to District officials that the free condoms the city has been offering are not of good enough quality and are too small and that getting them from school nurses is "just like asking grandma or auntie."

So D.C. officials have decided to stock up on Trojan condoms, including the company's super-size Magnum variety, and they have begun to authorize teachers or counselors, preferably male, to distribute condoms to students if the teachers complete a 30-minute online training course called "WrapMC" -- for Master of Condoms.

"If people get what they don't want, they are just going to trash them," said T. Squalls, 30, who attends the University of the District of Columbia. "So why not spend a few extra dollars and get what people want?"

Health officials and consumer advocates say that in terms of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, there's no difference between Trojans and the less-expensive Durex condoms that the city is offering.

But because Trojans are considered the better-known brand, city officials say, they are willing to spend an extra few thousand dollars a year to try to persuade sexually active teenagers to practice safer sex. The Durex condoms will still be offered.

"We thought making condoms available was a good thing, but we never asked the kids what they wanted," said D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), chairman of the health committee.

The addition of the more expensive Trojan condoms is the latest move in an effort by officials to flood city streets with latex to battle HIV/AIDS.

The District, where 3 percent of residents have HIV, studies show, recently received a grant to offer free female condoms. And, in what is thought to be a first for a local government, the city is mailing up to 10 free condoms at a time to residents who request them online. Free condoms are also available at more than 100 locations, including barbershops, liquor stores and youth centers.

"We want to support the regularization of condom use citywide," said Shannon L. Hader, director of the city's HIV/AIDS administration. "We are promoting this idea that using condoms is healthy . . . to try to destigmatize condom use, not only for kids, but for grown-ups."

Scientists and D.C. health officials said the appeal of Trojan condoms can be attributed to the company's marketing strategy, including the packaging of Magnums in a shiny, gold wrapper.

"The gold package certainly has a little bit of the bling quality," said Michael Kharfen, a spokesman for the city's HIV/AIDS administration.


Hader said the District, which began its publicly funded condom program in 2006, and New York are the only cities in the United States with large-scale, publicly financed condom distribution programs run through health departments. But health officials in both cities have been grappling over how to make government-issued condoms more appealing.
New York began its program in 1971 and packages its free condoms in wrappers selected by residents in an online poll. The current wrapper resembles an electronic computer power button. Since "NYC Condom" hit the streets in 2007, usage has soared, said Monica Sweeney, the city's assistant commissioner for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

"Everyone knows this condom," Sweeney said. The city distributes 40 million condoms annually, she said.

The number of free condoms that the District dispenses has been steadily increasing. The health department distributed 3.2 million last year, including about 15,000 in schools. The city, which has 600,000 residents, is on pace to hand out more than 4 million condoms this year, having distributed about 2.5 million so far. The program cost about $165,000 last year. The Durex condoms cost the city 5.7 cents each, but the Trojans will cost 6 cents to 9 cents each (depending on size).

Last spring, Catania commissioned a committee to explore youth sex habits. The Youth Sexual Health Project survey found that 57 percent of high school students were sexually active and that they were not taking advantage of the condoms at school.

The first hurdle, the survey said, was that students did not like asking school nurses for them. So, city officials agreed to also allow other teachers or counselors who complete the WrapMC course to distribute them. "It's usually the younger teachers or the cool teacher or the coach," Hader said.

And, the report said, survey participants "felt Trojan brand condoms were of better quality and protection." Students also regarded Magnums as the best condom type because they were perceived as "thicker"; the Durexes were viewed as most likely to "pop or break."

"Trojan is more reliable, while Durex are kind of small," said Roger Perryman, 20, a Northeast resident and UDC student. "People just think of Durex as a cheap brand."

Consumer Reports magazine said in a report last fall that Trojan and Durex, as well as the Lifestyles condoms repackaged by the New York City health department, both scored 100 percent in tests of "strength, reliability, leakage and package integrity."

"All these condoms work completely equally," Hader said. "Believe it or not, the Durex condoms come in bigger sizes, too. Magnum has nothing to do with it."

Steve Mare, a senior brand manager for the Atlanta-based Durex, said "it's not surprising" that youngsters in Washington gravitate toward Trojan condoms. Although Durex is the top-selling condom worldwide, Trojan occupies 70 percent of the market in the United States.

"It's just the fact in this market they are better known," Mare said. "There are certainly no issues with the quality of the Durex condom in Washington, D.C." A spokesman for Trojan said their products are superior because when applied they are "a little more generous than your standard condom."

And when it comes to perceptions about pleasure, even New York has broadened its offerings. Despite the fancy packaging, Sweeney said, her agency has received requests for "larger sizes" and "extra thin" condoms. New York, like the District, is happy to oblige.

"I want everyone who is having a sexual relationship to do it with condoms," Sweeney said. "So we try to give them whichever condom will help them do that. . . . What they ask for, we will give them."

[ILADVOCATE]

Parents and health education classes can take steps to encourage abstinence. I would not support any program that specifically encouraged sexual promiscuity especially below the age of consent. If it appears to promote that there I agree. As for what you described the needle exchange programs have shown a proven reducation in the spread of HIV among people who are addicted to heroin and as well of course that can spread to the public in general. The HIV epidemic remains out of control and a cure is not in sight. If parents are concerned about why young people are sexually active and believe they shouldn't be, some of the blame is on parents themselves. Not parents who are responsible but ones who aren't and do not take steps to encourage responsible behavior among their children which has contributed to many problems in society and often irresponsible behavior, tends to encourage other young people to engage in the same life style. I can't remember how many times I had to turn down offers to use drugs or drink irresponsibly in college and even in high school. That was because my parents taught me a sense of responsibility which every parent should do.

[R Glass]

“Don't we teach abstinence anymore??”
I agree with you. Maybe they should distribute free syringes.

[teko]

I agree that there should be consent forms. lol  As old as I now am, I remember having these same battles with the schools when mine were in high school. I felt the same way. And I agree the college kids should be exempt. This program wasnt put into place because of parents like you and me tho, they were put in place because of the parents that let their kids run rampant and dont care. It just seems to have turned into free for all in recent years. I do not envy any one who is a parent in todays world, it was hard enuff when mine were little. If you listen to some of the posts from kids as young as 14 on these forums, it is pretty scary! Did you hear on the news where a 14 year old boy was coerced into getting obscene tattoo because he was promised to not be picked on anymore if he did? Scary stuff there! All because he wanted the others to like him.

[specialmom]

Now see.  I just got interrupted from posting because my littlest guy wanted a cuddle.  I was going to say that above is just my opinion, and that is all it is.  

Maybe if they require parental consent to participate in the "condom" getting------  it will open up dialogue between parents and their kids.

Although, I'm pretty sure based on the past 5 minutes of snuggling that my son will grow up with perfect values.  LOL LOL LOL  (can I still hope so?)

[specialmom]

Hm.  I do get that.  But . . . when the issue is "kids won't talk to parents" I don't think it is helpful to have yet another barrier to doing so.  Why should they?  They don't need to if the school is taking over the role.  And frankly, I don't appreciate the school saying that they have the kids best interest at heart more than I do as a parent.  No, not everyone is as fabulous a parent as me (LOL----  )  but I think taking them out of the mix in what happens with their children is wrong.  If there is a program at the school and any parents that are worried about this sign a consent form to receive condoms from school personel, okay.  But they should not assume that it is okay.  I realize that kids will do things their parents do not want them to.  But I don't think the school should be "in" on it.  Parents should have a say.  

And disappointment in the brand?  Ridiculous.  And I do not think college kids should be involved in it.  I know a lot of college kids.  They find money to do all kinds of things--------  they can buy their own condoms.  But then . . . I'm going to raise them that their is no free lunch.  Some kids are raised to expect that.  

[teko]

Let me be clear. I feel many of the same ways as mentioned. I do not believe in kids having sex, smoking, drinking, having a cell phone or a car for that matter until they can pay for it, etc.  What I did say is, regardless of what you think and how you raise them, even the best of children will stray from how they were raised when they are teens. You might not know about what they did, but they did. So based on what a teen feels in a teen world, do we want to be morally judgmental or factually armed. That is a decision each of us makes.  I think as a parent you have to be both. None of my children got pregnant as a teen, used drugs, etc.  However, they DID do things that put them at risk and you dont find that out sometimes until after they are grown, married and have their own kids. Now I see some of the same things in my grandchildren except now sex is absolutely no big deal in their generation, and no matter how we feel about that, it is a fact nonetheless.

[adgal]

I agree that it's not ok for teens to be having sex.  There are so many more repercussions then pregnancy and/or STD's.  I know I want my son to respect his body and not to be pressured by others.

The thing is that teenagers, by the very nature of being kids, do dumb things.  They make bad choices.  Unfortunately by about the age of 15 or 16 they are far more influenced by their peers then their parents.  

Kids from the best homes out there get pregnant, get STD's etc.  I am no Sarah Palin fan, but I give credit where it's due, and I have a lot of respect for her as a mother.  Yet still, her teenage daughter got pregnant at 17.  

I agree that teaching abstinance is still best.  However, I also want my son to understand how to protect himself should he choose differently.  I just feel like it would be naive of me not too. I don't feel I am comprimising the value system I wish to install in him, I just feel like I am being realistic about what the world is like now. He will face far different types of peer pressure then I ever had to.  I intend to arm him with all the information I can, then all I can do is hope he makes good decisions.  As for the school and teachers/councillors, I hope he chooses to talk to me and I will encourage him to do so, but if he's not talking to me I hope he talks to someone.  And I hope that someone gives him good, factual information.  I do believe that knowledge is power.

I also fully agree with you that children are allowed far too much freedom.  Sadly, they also seem to grow up far too quickly, and be put in positions where they are making adult decisions they are clearly not equipped to make.  

[Barb135]

Don't we teach abstinence anymore??  --- No, forgive me, I'm getting too old for this -- but I think that providing free condoms - of whatever brand -  is like saying "okay -- whatever you are going to do is okay with me, just don't get anyone pregnant or bring home any undesirable diseases"...........that's wrong........

Saying "kids will be kids" or "boys will be boys" --- that don't cut it........if they are taught to do the right thing, they will.  

Go ahead, call me naive -- why is it so wrong to have your child called weird because they won't have sex??  Just because it's the "in" thing to do, doesn't mean it's right.  Is it a "badge of honor" to have had sex by a certain age??

That's what's wrong with our society -- parents aren't teaching right from wrong and they aren't teaching kids to stand up for what is right....  If all the kids in your child's school jumped off the roof and broke their neck, would you think it was okay for YOUR child to do it because it's the "in" thing??

We make things way too easy for the kids these days; yes, I know, we all want our kids to have better than we did -- but are they turning out better than we did, with all the freedoms we've given them?  I don't think so.......

I never had a curfew when I was in school, because I knew the consequences of coming in too late!!  I was not allowed to stay home from school or even sleep in on Sat; I had things to do and I was expected to do them; if I stayed out too late -- sorry 'bout my luck -- the work still had to get done................

This reminds of a post I did on another forum not too long ago, in which I asked why it's okay for parents to diet and limit their sugar/candy/calorie intake, but yet keep the stuff around for the kids --- I got an answer of "if you don't let your kids have candy/sweets, they feel left out"............so we are going to let them get obese, just to keep them from feeling left out??  We're going to let our kids have all the sex they want, because it's the "in" thing?   Why would we not try to teach our kids about the things that are bad for them -- just because they are kids, we have to let them have "treats", whether it be candy or sex -- what difference does it make -- it's bad for them...........

[teko]

Well having already have raised children, let me tell ya, they are gonna do what they gonna do. They may not tell the parents about it, but as they say, where there is a will there is a way. Unfortunately todays kids are swayed more by their peers than their parents and having sex is very popular and your considered  weird if you don't. Also as a parent who lost a child to aids, I am all for free condoms. Its getting them to take the time to use the precautions that is the problem. Now days, teen girls get pregnant because they think it is the in thing to do. Sad, but true. I think girls can also get birth control and abortions without parents being notified. And at a very young age.  Thru planned parenthood. This I think is wrong.

[adgal]

Just thinking further about this....I can remember being about 15 or so and a group of my girlfriends were at my house after school.  None of us had had sex, but were talking about it anyway.  Someone had told us, and we all believed it, that you couldn't get pregnant "the first time".  Thankfully my mom overheard us and sat down with us to set us straight.  But it shows you it's scary when teens are getting info from each other as opposed to appropriate sources.  We truly believed it. Seems ludicrous now, but hey, we were 15.  

[ILADVOCATE]

The promotional idea is probably from the company and I'm not sure what that is all about.However, it has been proven in studies that sex education that encourages abstinence but explains about the use of contraception not only reduces the amount of STD's and unwanted pregnancies but actually increases the level of abstinence. The issue of sexual relations is of course controversial with teenagers but when people are 18, it generally will happen and regardless with AIDS being fatal and other STD's becoming treatment resistant it generally makes sense to facilitate the use of contraception when needed (that is not the same as encouraging sex, also this will lead to less unwanted pregnancies which will reduce the number of abortions of which I understand people's concerns). If people are concerned about the specific values system of their own children at any age they can discuss what they feel to be appropriate behavior with them and explain why.

[adgal]

Lol, you know I love you anyway!!!  

It's a sensative topic for sure.  I would agree that this topic and things like birth control are better dealt with at home.  And I know that you are the kind of mother (as am I) that will have these conversations with our children when the time is appropriate.

The reason I think this is a positive step is that unfortunately many parents do not discuss these issues with their children. The kids get all kinds of crazy ideas and combined with peer pressure, make unwise choices.  So I feel it is better to have them make bad choices properly protected then unprotected.  It's unfortunate it is that way, but I feel like it's a more realistic approach.

As always I completely respect your opinion.  I just see far to many unwanted teenage pregnancies and STD's to feel differently. I wish all children were brought up the way yours will be.  

Now, if you've had a long day, time to put your feet up or take a bubble bath!!!!!!

[specialmom]

Gulp.  Are you serious?  As a mother------------  if a school gave my kid a condom, I'd have a fit.  I am sorry, but I would.  Just give in to the "they are going to do it anyway" argument and make it easier?  Not this mom.  

And college students?  I think they can give up one six pack of beer and buy a pack of condoms for themselves.  Are we to assume that they are too cheap, lazy and irresponsible to buy their own condoms once legal adults?  

I'm sorry-----------  I just don't agree.  A highschool should not have the ability to go behind a parent's back and give birth control of any kind.  If a parent signs a consent form--------  okay.  But it is like the school says that parents can't handle issues with their children, that they know better.  I have a problem with that.  

And they don't like the brand???  Gulp.  Man I must be old because I say . . .who the heck cares?  Save up your allowance and buy them yourself.  Geez.  Or if I decide to go with the "I can't talk you out of it argument, so I guess you're going to take on the responsibility of sex"--------  then I'll buy them condoms myself.  Or maybe I'll set up a reward chart for it as I do with my kids now to earn a special toy . . . okay.  I better stop as I'm going off the deep end.  

Okay, I've had a long day and I bet this post shows that.  I'll stop now.  

[adgal]

I think this is a wise move.  Teenagers have strange ideas, and if they don't like something, can be very stubborn.  It is a waste of time and money to give them something they simply won't use.  While I do not condone teenagers having sex to begin with, if they are going to do it, I am glad they are being encouraged to do it safely.  I do not see this as "encouraging" sexual activity.  I do hope however, that making the condoms available is being combined with honest sex education and teaching them that even while practicing "safe sex" there is still risk involved.  I can also see the male students being uncomfortable asking a female nurse for them.  Even at the age of 41, I am far more comfortable talking to a female Dr. about such things.  It sounds to me like this school is being very realistic and ultimately wants it's students protected.  A wise move.