The number of teenagers abusing substances in Papua New Guinea is on the rise.
The team leader of the National Narcotics Bureau, Mathew Nelson, says unemployment has driven people to abuse drugs and alcohol.
Mr Nelson said the bureau has rolled out an awareness and education programme, but the number of psychiatric admissions caused by drug abuse has increased.
"We're looking at a total of 300 in these institutions. That basically is a figure from induced drug abuse," he said.
"People are going into the prisons, that's why our awareness programme is important to us. The awareness programme can be as good as it is with quality so that people make an educated decision."