This edition of Break the Cycle has an interesting theme. It's called "Get It On."

Get it on is a reference to putting on a condom. The idea couldn't be simpler: use condoms to break the cycle of transmitting sexual diseases.

Perhaps you've seen the public service announcement on television or caught sight of a poster on a city bus, or hanging on a wall. You won't find the word "condom" on any of these, but the message is still there.

"We wanted to have that moment where they have to stop and go, 'What is that?' People haven't said it's mixed up the message for them at all, but it has caused people to stop and have to think," said Chrissy Bell of the Alaska Aids Assistance Association.

Bell is with the Alaska Aids

Assistance Association. She says most people have heard that condoms can stop the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, but in Alaska that's just part of the problem. The state has high rates of other sexually transmitted diseases that a condom can also stop dead in its tracks. Bell says it's also important not to confuse the condom campaign with birth control

"Birth control prevents against pregnancy, but it doesn't prevent against STDs and HIV and that's something to be very aware of. If someone is on birth control, but has multiple sex partners, they definitely need to be looking at other ways to protect themselves," said Bell.

One of the best places to get information on that is at AK.org.

"We have the four campaign images and each one links to a page that has information attached to it," said Bell.

The Web site has lots of information about safe sex practices including condoms--everything from how to use one correctly, to where you can get free condoms in Anchorage and across the state. Bell says the idea is to give people vital information in a way that's comfortable and easy for people

to access and, in turn, break the cycle of transmission of disease.

"And knowing how to protect yourself. Knowing what steps you need to protect yourself, to keep yourself safe and, in turn, make your community safe, is what is going to prevent new cases in the future," said Bell.

To contact Lauren, call 907-273-3186.