'It worked': Billy Idol shares controversial way he finally quit heroin Billy Idol finally overcame his addiction to heroin when he started smoking crack instead. 5 March 2026 Billy Idol finally beat his heroin addiction when he started smoking crack. Billy Idol struggled to overcome heroin addiction The 70-year-old rock star had a "terrible" time trying to overcome his dependency on the drug, and only by replacing it with another vice was he eventually able to stop relying on heroin.