Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance use in the City-Province ofKinshasa / DR Congo

Authors

  • Justin Muilu Pila Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Patrice Milambo Kapia National Program for the Fight against Drug Addiction and Toxic Substances (PNLCT), Kinshasa-Kintambo, DR Congo Author
  • Jean-Michel Mavungu Mbuku Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinics of Kinshasa (CUK), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo Author
  • Papy Ngokumu Nsele Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo Author
  • Armand Nkiambilumuene Pila Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo Author
  • Béni Muilu Pila Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Orchi Nzimba Kasomba Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Diane Missi Nyota Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Victorine Lupatu Mputu Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Léon Mfutila Ndele Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Paul Matungulu Kisungu Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Bénédicte Nanga Tshamala Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Mechack Badabi Zingale 1 Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Bovic Kanda Tshimanga Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Dacosta Dioya Ngina Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Exaucé Black Bangala Ndombe Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Jules Kuzeye Nakafwako Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP) Author
  • Cadet Kamba Kanundowu Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Author
  • Gilbert Mananga Lelo Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/JCET/2025(6)148

Keywords:

Consumption, Kinshasa, Prevalence, Psychoactive Substance

Abstract

Context and Objective: Psychoactive substance use among young people is a real public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychoactive substance use in Kinshasa.

 Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted among 9,033 subjects distributed across the twenty-four municipalities of Kinshasa from September 7 to December 7, 2022. The sampling was probabilistic, exhaustive, and convenience. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013 software to determine the mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval. The parameters of interest were sociodemographics and the concept of psychoactive substance use.

Results: The average age of the study subjects was 31.5 ± 13.9 years. The majority of subjects were under 40 years of age (72.7%), with a sex ratio of 1.28 M/F. More than half had a secondary education (51.1%), a job (68.8%), a single status (63.2%), a low monthly income (74.2%), had an average of five dependents (50.1%), and 35.3% attended Revival churches. Beer was the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance (65.3%). Conclusion: The prevalence of psychoactive substance use in Kinshasa is high. This situation is most prevalent among young, high-school-educated men with informal occupations, single men with an average of five dependents, low monthly income, members of the traditional church, and primarily beer consumers.

Author Biographies

  • Justin Muilu Pila, Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)


    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Patrice Milambo Kapia, National Program for the Fight against Drug Addiction and Toxic Substances (PNLCT), Kinshasa-Kintambo, DR Congo

    National Program for the Fight against Drug Addiction and Toxic Substances (PNLCT), Kinshasa-Kintambo, DR Congo

  • Jean-Michel Mavungu Mbuku, Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinics of Kinshasa (CUK), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

    Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinics of Kinshasa (CUK), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

  • Papy Ngokumu Nsele, Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

    Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

  • Armand Nkiambilumuene Pila, Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

    Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

  • Béni Muilu Pila, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)


    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Orchi Nzimba Kasomba, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Diane Missi Nyota, Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Victorine Lupatu Mputu, Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Léon Mfutila Ndele, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Paul Matungulu Kisungu, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Bénédicte Nanga Tshamala, Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)


    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Mechack Badabi Zingale, 1 Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Bovic Kanda Tshimanga, Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Dacosta Dioya Ngina, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Exaucé Black Bangala Ndombe, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Jules Kuzeye Nakafwako, Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

    Public utility establishment called Papa Muilu Pila Foundation (FPM/EUP)

  • Cadet Kamba Kanundowu, Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

    Faculty of Medicine, Simon Kimbangu University (USK), Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)

  • Gilbert Mananga Lelo, Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

    Department of Neurology, Neuro-PsychoPathological Center (CNPP), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), DR Congo

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Published

2025-08-14

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Volume 6 Issue 2

Section

Articles