D.C. Upgrades Its Free Condom Program

Posted on May 21, 2010

Flickr / cosen

The District of Columbia is on pace to hand out more than 4 million free condoms this year,

It may just be an extraordinary guerrilla marketing tactic, but after complaints that the condoms given out by D.C. schools are “too small” and awkward to receive, officials have announced they are stocking up on Trojan brand condoms—including the super-size Magnum variety in a shiny gold wrapper.

The revised program will also authorize teachers to hand out condoms to students after the teachers complete an online training course.

The Washington Post:

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?”

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