Based on the recommendations of the government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the strategy focuses on maximizing contact with drug users to change their behaviors from such high-risk practices as sharing syringes and having unprotected sex. Comparisons of information from the Mersey Region and other regions indicate that Mersey is the highest in treatment rates of known drug addicts, the second highest rate among intravenous drug users, the lowest number of HIV-positive drug injectors, and the second lowest rate of HIV-positive drug injectors. In addition, research on the four largest syringe exchange programs shows some of the best results in the United Kingdom, with about 90 percent of used syringes returned and more than 90 percent of clients ceasing needle sharing. Figure, table, notes, and 4 references.