Smoking Prevention, Secondhand Smoke, and HIV, STD, Oral Sex, and Abstinence Pamphlets and Posters by Journeyworks Publishing, Santa Cruz, CA. Prices start at $16 for 50 pamphlets, $1.95 per poster.
Health professionals and educators will be interested in displaying these posters and distributing these pamphlets provided by Journeyworks Publishing. The posters and the pamphlets are attractive, fact-filled representations that display the dangers of high-risk behaviors associated with teenagers and young adults. Journeyworks tackles the topics of secondhand smoke, smoking prevention, and sexual-related issues and behaviors. Journeyworks designs its materials in a professional manner that integrates text and graphics to effectively convey its message to the target audience. The illustrations are cartoon-like representations of real life issues and problems, making the harsh reality of these topics a little less frightful for teenagers to explore.
Journeyworks explores smoking prevention with two teenager-targeted pamphlets and a poster entitled, "Join the Crowd: Say No to Smoking." The first pamphlet informs the reader that tobacco pipes and hookahs are no less dangerous than cigarettes. This pamphlet is very informative, and it is especially useful because it covers a topic that is rarely explored otherwise. Current antismoking campaigns target cigarette smoke, but little do they mention other types of tobacco use. However, one must wonder if the Tobacco Pipes and Hookahs pamphlet needs to be updated because it is doubtful that "narguileh, hubble bubble, or shisha" are part of modern day vernacular. However, the rest of Journeyworks' smoking materials effectively target today's teenager by pointing out that smoking may not only cause diseases and undesirable effects later in life, but smoking can turn teeth yellow and cause premature wrinkles and gray hair. I bet Britney Spears would drop her cigarette if she were aware of this information.
The secondhand smoke pamphlets and poster set includes the following subjects: living with a smoker, tobacco smoke and the environment, pregnancy and secondhand smoke, and secondhand smoke and your lungs. The related poster is called "Clear the Air." These materials effectively convey their messages and target a slightly older audience than the smoking prevention materials. Although the diagrams and illustrations are not particularly helpful, the information in this material is accurate. One must wonder if these pamphlets are too cluttered with information. The combination of poor graphics and dense text could be a turn-off for the targeted audience.
Perhaps Journeyworks' most effective pamphlet and poster set is the set that includes the pamphlets: "I'm Choosing Abstinence Because[horizontal ellipsis]," Abstinence and Oral Sex, and "HIV, STDs, and Oral Sex." The poster for this set is "How to Say No to Sex and Keep Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend." Journeyworks should be applauded for covering these topics that are traditionally difficult for teenagers (and adults) to discuss. Numerous pamphlets exist that discuss sex-related issues, such as STDs and abstinence, but few of those combine the topics with oral sex. It is easy to preach abstinence, but we must give support to teens who choose abstinence. These pamphlets support the reader and inform him or her that oral sex is not a risk-free alternative. The topics alone should draw teens to these pamphlets and poster, but again, Journeyworks' professional and eye-catching document design lends credibility to these materials. This will surely attract its target audience. One concern is that the "I'm Choosing Abstinence Because[horizontal ellipsis]" pamphlet is laden with bullets and font changes, making it difficult for the reader to distinguish headings from body text.
Overall, except for a few minor detractions, I highly recommend Journeyworks materials. The topics covered and the display of these topics is relevant, pertinent, and professionally done. I hope this important information reaches its target audience. Journeyworks Publishing will provide complimentary review copies of their pamphlets, by calling 1-800-775-1998.