Positive Prevention uses birth control as a tool to oppress women through coercion, intimidation, and guilt. Contrary to popular belief, women who struggle with chemical addiction are not intentionally having babies because they just love giving birth to children they cannot support.

The culture of drug use and drug sales is such that sex is the most available means of acquiring money for drugs, or for the drug itself, particularly for women. Getting pregnant is a consequence of intercourse for women who use sex to support their drug habit - women who have a higher risk for pregnancy. When chemically-addicted women become pregnant it is often the pregnancy itself that motivates women to seek drug treatment. However, waiting lists to enter drug treatment programs are often so long that women become discouraged and stop trying. Also, because there are very few long-term drug treatment centers that offer prenatal care for pregnant drug users the cards stacked against these women to resources grows even higher.

Chemically-addicted women who become pregnant look for help, then get discouraged when there is little to no help available; they are placed in a profoundly vulnerable position. When these women see Positive Prevention/CRACK's offer of $200.00 as a "cash incentive to encourage them to choose birth control," the message is - "since you (the woman) cannot control your drug habit we will pay you money to stop getting pregnant." (Note: $200.00 is not a lot of money and is even less money when it comes to supporting a drug addiction). This in turn gets internalized as "you cannot control yourself and creating more people like you cannot be allowed and therefore, we do not care about what you do to yourself. Since we do not believe you have any value neither do the children you are creating."

Women who rationalize this message "I do not deserve to be saved so why should I be able to have children," do so out of intimidation and public shame by a society that rejects them by saying they have no value, that they are a non-person and do not deserve the right to have children. This message creates enormous guilt and that is the piece that becomes coercive.

Birth control is liberation for women. It gives women complete sovereignty over their bodies and enables women to decide for themselves when the time is right for them to become mothers. The use of condoms not only gives women and men an additional option for birth control; condoms specifically provide people with protection from sexually transmitted infections (STI's) like HIV/AIDS.

Positive Prevention/CRACK supports birth control methods that do not protect women or men from the spread of HIV/AIDS or other STI's. Positive Prevention/CRACK's support of only certain kinds of birth control actually facilitates the spread of STI's and HIV. Therefore, Positive Prevention/CRACK's limited birth control choices work against women in the long run. The birth control options that Positive Prevention/CRACK offer are Norplant, Depo-Provera, IUD (Intrauterine Device), Tubal Ligation, and for men, vasectomy. Though these birth control methods are 98% to 100% effective they also have drawbacks proven detrimental to women's health.

Here are just a few facts about the limited birth control options that Project Prevention will support.

Norplantlong-term sterilization for women
What it is and How it works
Norplant consists of six slender, flexible plastic capsules the size of matchsticks placed under the skin of the inner arm in a fanlike pattern that slowly release synthetic progestin. Provides no protection against STI's and HIV/AIDS.

Side effects
Possible increase in acne, weight gain, breast tenderness, arm pain, and irregular periods and spotting during first year. Removal involves minor surgery. Also, specifically for black women, removing Norplant can lead to sever scarring. (Birth Control Comparison Chart provided by the Feminist Women's Heath Center, 4300 Talbot Road South, Suite 403, Renton Washington, 98055. 1998.)

Depo-Provera long-term sterilization for women
What it is and How it works
Depo-Provera is an injection of progestin, which is a synthetic version of the body's natural progesterone. Each Depo-Provera shot lasts for three weeks, meaning that a woman must commit to seeing the doctor four times a year in order for the Depo-Provera to be successful. Positive Prevention/CRACK pays participants who choose Depo-Provera $50.00 at the time the participant can prove they have received the first of four shots, then are paid the remaining $150.00 upon the receipt of the final shot. So, if participants choose Depo-Provera they will not be paid the full $200.00 dollars until the end of a year. Does not protect against STI's and HIV/AIDS.

Side effects
Possible increased breast cancer risk, possible decrease in bone mineral density which, over the long term, could lead to osteoporosis, possible nervousness, headaches, lack of sex drive, moodiness and depression. (BCCC, 1998)

IUD long-term sterilization for women
What it is and How it works
IUD is a small (1 to 1-1/2 inch) plastic/metal device with a string attached, shaped like a T or 7 and may contain copper or hormones. Provides no protection against STI's and HIV/AIDS.

Side effects include heavier periods, uterine infections, particularly if the woman has many sex partners, possible puncture of uterus during insertion, or any time leading to possible hemorrhage, infection and resulting loss of fertility, body may expel IUD, and male partners may feel or be "poked" by string. (BCCC, 1998)

Tubal Ligation permanent sterilization for women
What it is and How it works
Tubal Ligation (also known as Female Sterilization) requires a one-day outpatient surgery to close (or "tie") fallopian tubes thereby preventing eggs from becoming fertilized. Some disadvantages of having a tubal ligation include risks related to general anesthesia, the procedure is difficult to reverse, there could be possible regret, and young women with no children may have difficulty finding a doctor to perform permanent sterilization. (BCCC, 1998) Does not protect against STI's and HIV/AIDS.

Vasectomy permanent sterilization for men
What it is and How it works
Vasectomy (also known as Male Sterilization) requires minor surgery with an anesthetic. In a vasectomy, the surgeon cuts and ties off the ends of the vas deferens. This prevents sperm from mixing with the seminal fluid. At ejaculation then, the semen is devoid of sperm. (Urology Channel website, www.urologychannel.com/vasectomy/", first viewed June 2, 2001.) Having a vasectomy will not protect you from STI's and HIV/AIDS.