Planned Parenthood offers free prom kits containing condoms

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A "Prom Survival Kit" containing condoms and distributed through Planned Parenthood offices here has renewed the ongoing debate on the best way to reduce teen pregnancy.

Every spring, nurses and counselors at Planned Parenthood say they help teen-agers who fear they got pregnant or contracted a sexually transmitted disease on prom night.

So the organization came up with a "Prom Survival Kit" containing breath mints, confetti and condoms. The group had made about 50 of the free kits, but can make more. They are only available at metro-area Planned Parenthood offices.

Planned Parenthood said they're not promoting sex, but they want teens to be responsible and take precautions if they do have sex. They also said parents should be the primary sex educators of their children.

Still, some people say the kits are a bad idea and amount to little more than a package promoting promiscuity.

Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council, a conservative public-policy group, said the kits send a too permissive message.