Twelve priority areas for health education in the 1980s are identified, based on the magnitude and seriousness of the problems addressed; the solidity of the research base; and the likelihood that health education may facilitate improvement in the area. The twelve areas are: (1) cigarette smoking; (2) aging and the aged; (3) mental health; (4) violence (car accidents, suicide, homicide); (5) nutrition; (6) job-related hazards and risks; (7) use of medical resources; (8) childhood immunizations; (9) healthy births; (10) comprehensive school health education; (11) bias and discrimination; and (12) wellness education. (JD)