<p class="x---" xml:lang="en-US">The article examines spread and use of drugs in Russia in its relation to political and social factors, as well as the evolution of scientific approaches to a problem of drug abuse among young people across the historical development of society. The response of the state to the spread of youth drug addiction and its efforts to find some solution to the problem are analyzed. The author draws a connection between the drug situation and the social and economical conditions in Russian society. <p class="x---" xml:lang="en-US"> Purpose.  To undertake a retrospective analysis of approaches to a problem of youth narcotics abuse through the scope of historical transformations in Russia since the end of the 19th century to nowadays. <p class="x---" xml:lang="en-US"> Methodology.  Method of theoretical analysis of scientific literature, periodicals, legal acts as well as general scientific methods such as classification, generalization and comparison were used. The use of historical method allowed the author to demonstrate the development of scientific attitudes towards a problem of youth drug abuse and the importance of its study. <p class="x---" xml:lang="en-US"> Results.  There were marked basic stages of development of Russian drug policy and two outbreaks of youth drug epidemic. Research in this field carried out by Russian scientists had a great impact on the shaping of a national drug strategy focusing on young people as a prio-rity group.