I've heard people use that lame excuse before. If you've got the talent, I believe you don't need any mood/psychological/physical altering substances to produce great stuff. It's just a psychological crutch that aids a weak mind/will. The end result doesn't come from the substance, it comes from the person.
With that said, as far as I'm concerned, people can do what they want with their own bodies and can make contradictory life choices as long as they don't hurt others. If they believe they need a drink to loosen themselves up or give them confidence or a drug to achieve their goals, so be it.
As for me, I'm 35 and have never touched drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. I have no interest and frankly don't see the appeal. I also have a hard time relating to addiction, but can understand that is a reality for a lot of people (though I certainly don't applaud anyone for kicking one - you shouldn't have become addicted in the first place). I enjoy life unfiltered and have a million different ways to amuse myself. The only thing I ever wish for is more time in the day to get to more of it...
Again, not passing judgment on anyone who doesn't harm others, but it's always good to hear from others out there who don't feel obligated to fall in with the masses in regards to the classic vices...
Lame excuse...You can thank Francis Cricks discovery of the DNA helix(double-helix) to LSD...To this day it may have never been figured out if he didn't use the substance...It was a turning point in the field of medicine...The Beatles may go down in history as the best band to ever exist...Try looking into there lyrics...
Open your mind alittle and do yourself a favor and google "magic mushrooms"...This silly little mushroom is responsible in help forging so many eras dating back thousands of years...Including be responsible for the start of many different religions/gods etc...
Silicone Valley was built by some of the minds of the 60's era...Hippies turned into yuppies...
Can you name 10 of the most influential bands of the last 50 years who did not use and sing about there drug use? We have a sitting president as we speak who is a speed freak...Hitler was a massive drug addict...The whole Russian parliment for the last 100 years were not only drunks but use massive amounts of speed...
What you call Lame excuse, I call not only History but reality...You may not like the fact that drugs were and are used by many powerful people in the world but it is a reality...