Drug use among young people is a silent but growing crisis, particularly alarming in sub-Saharan African cities like Kinshasa. The fruit of rigorous field research carried out among Kinshasa's young people aged 14 to 25, this book lifts the veil on troubling realities. It reveals consumption profiles that are often precocious, marked by significant dependence, particularly on alcohol and tobacco, with frequent initiation to marijuana. The study also highlights a dangerous tendency to trivialize risks and underestimate the negative consequences for young people's academic, financial, health and social lives. More than just a diagnosis, this book is a call to action. It provides an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms at play, and offers targeted recommendations for developing effective preventive and curative interventions.