To tackle the drug menace, government must intensify prevention strategies as part of a comprehensive response to drug demand, supply and trafficking, says the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
"At present, the balance between our work on the
supply and demand sides stays firmly in favour of the supply side. We must
restore the balance," Executive Director Yury Fedotov told the opening in
Vienna of the 55th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on
Thursday.
Several African countries, which has become the new
frontier for the international drug cartels are attending the session.
The Commission is the central UN policy-making body
dealing with illicit drugs. Its current session brings together ministers and
anti-drug officials from its 53 member States to consider issues such as the
availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and
scientific purposes and preventing the diversion of chemicals for the manufacture
of illicit drugs.
"Prevention, treatment, rehabilitation,
reintegration and health have to be recognised as key elements in our
strategy," he added.
"Overall, our work on the treatment side must be
considered as part of the normal clinical work undertaken when responding to
any other disease in the health system."
He called on countries to recognise that drug dependence,
which claims some 250,000 lives annually, is an illness.