Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Unclear on the concept

"Condom lockdown
Here's a story to file in the 'it would be laughable if only it weren't true' column: The Washington Post today reports on pharmacies that keep their condoms locked up under the guise of theft prevention. CVS, the biggest chain in Washington, has 50 stores in the city; of those, 22 now keep their condoms locked in a glass box that requires customers to push a button for assistance to purchase them. Asking store clerks for condoms kept behind the counter can be embarrassing at any age, but having to push an actual condom call button draws the kind of unwanted attention that might deter even the most sexually confident.
And indeed, a drop in condom usage is exactly what has resulted. Christine Spencer-Grier, the leader of a Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington program that works with teen mothers to help them avoid future pregnancies, tells the Post that 'teens are very sensitive to a disparaging look, a lecture -- all of those things are very intimidating ... [So] many girls [leave] the stores ashamed and empty-handed -- but still likely to have sex.' "

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