611 patients with acute parenteral virus hepatitis (VH) were studied with a view to find out markers indicating the presence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection (HB, HC, HB + C, HC + HBsAg). Of these, 166 patients (27.2%) systematically used narcotic drugs intravenously. Essential differences between drug users and VH patients without drug addiction were established regarding the distribution of patients by age and sex, the etiological structure and severity of the disease. Thus, in the group of drug users the prevalence of males, young people (15-29 years of age) and the mixed form of hepatitis B + C was noted. In VH patients using drug the disease took a more severe course than in such patients without drug addiction. The highest proportion of intravenously drug users with a severe and moderate course of the disease was found among patients with HB + C and HB.