"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.