Traggic losses like Layne and Kurt are definitley just that. Traggic. Heroine is an extremely addictive and life sucking drug. BUT, there is no doubt that when certain artists are on heroine they create some of the most intense music. For me G'n'R "Appetite for Destruction" era was there most bad ass years while they were dabbling with 'Mr. Brownstone'. Dave Mustaine wrote some incredible dark and vicious albums on the stuff. AICs Dirt is probably one of darkest, intense, angry albums of all time. Written while Layne and Jerry were into heroine. Do I need to mention "nevermind'? I wish the stuff never existed. But I cannot deny that some of my all time favorite music was written while the artists were on the junk. The music entered another realm, so it seems to me. Once they broke the habit the music wasnt as dark and compelling. So I think that heroine does alter the creative process in that way. I've been tempted to try the stuff a few times, being the singer/guitarist/songwritter in a hard/heavy band with mathy/progressive parts. But in the end, the price isn't worth the reward. I'd rather live a clean 'normal' life than go down that dark path. Thomas ps- some of the greatest poets of all time took a form of opiate. It was considered THE thing to do by the great early 19 century poets.