A qualitative study was carried out to address the relevance of a specific approach of psychoactive drugs use to prevent abuse and dependence among deprived youth. 33 male young men were interwieved in 4 French jails. Heavy use of cannabis and alcohol as criminal activity take place on a background of social exclusion. They function as regulations of psychological distress and social conflicts. Designer drugs are rejected as middle class substances. Young men have a sense of invulnerability regarding the risk of becoming dependent on drugs or alcohol. Abuse is felt as a self-controlled therapy and drunkeness, even alcoholic coma, as an accident. They rise imaginary barriers against risk related to drug use. Medical and psychological care as well as social support are distrusted, and considered as stigmatising. Actually, new-established programmes as well as the whole social services system do not address the needs of this sub-group. The authors scrutinize the new drug policy – Triennal programme issued by the MILDT in june 1999 as possible response to problems relates to drug abuse among this population.