A video chronicling the story surrounding the death of a young drug-user has emerged victorious in a media competition highlighting youth drug issues which received a record number of entries this year.

Budding young journalists and producers could win €2,000 if their work scoops a prize at the National Youth Media Awards.

A 13-year-old Sligo student fended off strong competition from older teenagers and young adults to be crowned overall winner of the National Drugs Media Awards.

Recent discoveries of industrial-size cannabis factories and controversial proposals to end alcohol sponsorship of sport underline the seriousness of the issues being examined in the country’s first National Drugs Media Awards.