title: Who sets strategies to combat drug abuse.
abstract: Syringe and needle exchange schemes are among a package of new strategies demanded by the World Health Organisation to combat drug abuse, in response to the problem of HIV infection through contaminated needles. Between 20 and 25 per cent of AIDS cases in the US and Europe are associated with drug injecting behaviour, according to Dr Jonathan Mann, Director of the WHO Global Programme on AIDS and a member of a panel of experts from 23 countries set up by WHO to review the problem. The panel has called for more drug treatment programmes, a wider range of medical and non-medical treatments for drug addiction, and feasibility studies on syringe and needle exchange programmes.