A survey recently published by INPES shows that the use of addictive substances—alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other drugs—is on the rise among young people in French Polynesia. By assessing the current state of addictive behaviors among Polynesian youth, this study identifies links between the use of psychoactive substances and low self-esteem and/or difficulty managing stress. It concludes that health and education professionals need to implement, as part of their prevention efforts, a program dedicated to developing personal and social skills among young people.