Young people need to know the facts about HIV/AIDS

Information
Young people need to know the facts about HIV/AIDS and about drug use. They need to know
how HIV can be transmitted and what risk behaviour is. They also need to know how to reduce
their risk behaviour and how to protect themselves from infection.
Information can include:
What HIV/AIDS is.
How a person can get HIV/AIDS.
How a person can avoid getting HIV, including information about injecting paraphernalia
and the importance of clean equipment.
How to use a condom and other safer sex approaches including abstinence and monogamy.
What services or treatment centres are available to them, (detailed information on voluntary
counselling and testing and STI treatment), how to reach them and other information
related to partner services.
For this, it is vital that the information you provide is:
Easy to understand: Make your brochures and propaganda in the language of use, including
slang and street terms.
Attractive: Make the information look interesting to them—using pictures or drawings, which
appeal to their interests. Use slogans and catchy phrases.
Short: Keep information to the point and accurate. Too much information will not be read.
“Usually I just chuck them away—all the advice and papers. There’s too much information—
it’s always like a whole big piece of paper with a lot of writing [13]”. Hannah
It is often profitable to use educational materials designed by youngsters or former or current
drug users. They can help to make the information more interesting for them.
Different countries developed different styles and messages to adapt to the lifestyle and
preferences of their target group.