At "Live at The El Macombo," he was certainly using, but nothing heavy or like in the next two to three years. 85 was when he really hit bottom, 86 was when he completely lost it and went into rehab and cleaned up. Then laid low for awhile, recording wise, and then 89 he came out with "In Step." Not positive of the exact time line, but that gives you a general idea of it.
SRV was a guy that reached for the stars EVERY TIME he played, rhythm, lead or whatever. If he only made it to the stars, it was okay and a lot of times he went into a blackhole!
The ACL rendition of "Texas Flood" is probably the best SRV & DT version I've heard, but the version that he did with Albert Collins, BB King and DT in New Orleans (87, I think?) on the Riverboat was just as good but different style blues (not a power trio).
If you really want to hear him reach for the Stars and not even get out of the solar system, check out his live in Hawaii (84?) with Angela Strehli and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Played some great stuff on there, Jimmie sat in for a few tunes, and Stevie was high out of his mind.
CBS signed the Thunderbirds after that concert, and Stevie went on to get high and do his thing with a few more drugs in his system.
As long as the royalty checks to SRV's family is spelled correctly, I'm sure only a few people care about the spelling of his name.
