Given the high number people that are addicted to some kind of drug (17.8 million people in Europe according to the latest data) and the consequences of drug use by individuals, families and society, it is necessary that the legal framework of action, and prevention and rehabilitation programs, are scientifically based on quality research and on good practice, as much as on the needs of those people. The paper gives an overview of the importance of such research, as well as an overview of the relevant institutions at European and national level and strategy documents which coordinate the work of the competent authorities and define objectives in the field of drug control. The aim of this study was to analyze articles published in the biomedical and social scientific journals, from 2000 to 2014, which are closely related to the topic of drugs, following the example of European research. A total of 87 articles from 8 different journals were analyzed, in order to establish the quality and quantity of knowledge of the academic community on issues related to drugs. The analysis showed that the authors wrote mainly research works and that their aim is often to determine the prevalence and attitudes of respondents. There is a need for larger number of longitudinal and qualitative research, as well as for the evaluation and methodological studies.