Despite its public health advantages, the programme was controversial from the beginning. At the heart of the debate were two recurring issues: the fear that the programme would increase adolescent sexual activity, and the role of parents vs. schools in matters of teen sexuality. After a lengthy struggle, the school board approved the programme and, in conjunction with expanded AIDS education, the schools made condoms available. In spite of the appearance of substantial opposition to condom availability, 69% of parents, 89% of students and 76% of teachers ultimately supported the programme.

An evaluation of this programme demographically matched a New York City sample of approximately 7000 high school students with students in Chicago public high schools, where there was no condom availability programme. Students in both cities were remarkably similar in respect to many variables related to sexual activity. They were also similar in the percentage of students who reported having had three or more partners in the past six months (NYC, 19.5%; Chicago, 20.3%).

Analysis of the relationship between condom availability and sexual behaviour suggests that making condoms available does not  encourage students who have never had sex to become sexually active. In addition, adding condom availability to an HIV/AIDS education programme has a significant, though modest, relationship with condom use, particularly among students with multiple partners. Thus, making condoms available through the schools is an inexpensive STD/HIV prevention method.