Distribution of condomsDistribution of condoms to adolescents has always been a very controversial topic. Margaret Pruitt Clark sets out her perspective on this issue in her short essay titled "Condom Availability Promotes Health, Saves Lives." Clark has many good points about distributing condoms to teenagers and why these types of measures should be taken. I agree with many of his suggestions, but I don't think the school environment is the right place to do it. The threat of HIV, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents has become a life-threatening issue and measures should be taken. The Center for Disease Control released a survey stating that “31.9% of ninth grade girls and 48.7% of ninth grade boys have had sexual intercourse” (Clark 115). These numbers increase by approximately 30% by the time these students reach their senior year of high school. In a separate study, sexually transmitted diseases are said to have infected over two and a half million teenagers and every year one in ten girls becomes pregnant. Reasons teens don't use protection during sex include cost, access, and embarrassment. Many communities have already begun the battle with this problem. Condoms are now made available to students through their respective health centers, located within their schools. Cities across the nation are adopting this policy in the fight against AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. For a program like this to be successful, it must have the full support of the community. According to recent studies, the Center for Population Options knows about fifty schools that offer this service to their students. (Clark 115-119).Clark strongly agrees with the...... half of the document ......n educating teenagers about the risks of not using protection and informing them where they can get condoms, this It would be an important step in the fight against sex-related problems. While I don't agree with all of Clark's ideas, we have a common interest: stopping the menace of sex-related problems. To do this we must educate our young people and, if necessary, provide them with protection. The only controversy is how to provide this protection. Personally I do not believe that protection should be guaranteed in schools. The bottom line is that we are faced with a problem that requires serious attention and a probable solution. Bibliography: Clark, Margaret Pruitt. "The availability of condoms promotes health, saves lives." A brief guide to writing from the readings. Stephen W. Wilhoit. Needham Heights, Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon, 1997. 115-119.