Miles Davis was addicted to heroin for many years. He first started using the drug in the 1950s, and he would occasionally use it throughout his career. In the early 1980s, however, Davis' addiction became much more serious, and he began using heroin on a daily basis. This led to him missing gigs, showing up late for rehearsals, and generally behaving erratically. Davis' addiction ultimately led to his death in 1991.