The article is devoted to the study of the circumstances of life, illness and creativity of the famous composer Modest Mussorgsky in aspects of possible influence of alcohol intake. For the purpose of retrospective diagnosis of alcohol dependence, and also for assessing the possibility of its impact on the composer’s creativity, a pathographic analysis of publications about Modest Mussorgsky health throughout his life was carried out. A study of the letters of M.P. Mussorgsky, the memoirs of his contemporaries, the works of the composer’s biographers, as well as the analytical studies of specialists in retrospective diagnostics showed that alcohol dependence negatively affected his creative activity. However, despite the progressive, clearly malignant course of alcohol dependence, the composer’s professional skills evolved until the last days of his life. It is no less significant that in the most unfavorable periods of life, the composer wrote his most significant works. Often, Mussorgsky’s music in its positive emotional content contrasts sharply with the grim realities of his life. There is no doubt that the composer’s work was his only effective means of combating both alcohol addiction and life’s hardships.