These prevention efforts must reflect research showing that the perceived seriousness of the disease has little effect on either attitudes or behavior. Instead, effective health promotion messages include three components: a relatively low level of induced fear so that individuals do not have to use denial mechanisms to cope with that fear, a concentration on the short-term benefits of preventive behaviors, and the teaching of specific skills necessary to carry out the recommended behaviors. In addition, prevention programs directed at female drug users should use different approaches for women in drug treatment programs and those not in treatment programs. Among subgroups of adolescents that deserve particular attention in prevention efforts are male homosexual adolescents and adolescent runaways who live on the streets. AIDS risk-reduction programs directed to these groups must address and modify both the factors that serve to initiate the use of preventive health behaviors and those that encourage the long-term use of these behaviors. 67 references.