Just a random tidbit, but wanted to add that Freud did a lot of indirectly positive things for science (his views might been wrong but his thoughts on investigating the mind were inspiring to others), and medicine while using coke IV everyday.
Also, an artist using coke as a work tool may create a song that indirectly creates some positive things in the world. I reckon there have to be at least a few songs out there - that do actually touch people in a positive way - that would not exist without coke
In the artists' case, the coke could perhaps allow them to feel more able to write a very personal song; that they otherwise might not have been confident enough to write/release.
I feel that people who look at drugs as an intellectual/semi-creative pursuit possibly do less damage to themselves than those just partying hard and wasting any of their interesting, more in-depth thoughts thinking about how they are really really really good looking.
At the end of a night out partying, thinking random useless stuff, all you have is an empty wallet and massive comedown. If however you have a song that just amazes you, or a painting that you are really proud of, you might not feel so bad about the blow - and i would hazard a guess that that drug taking experience would be physically/psychologically less damaging, because you have things that allow you to maintain a slightly better outlook on your life.
For example, the artist on a comedown might feel proud of a work of art - as opposed to party goer who could be embarrassed for making a fool out of themselves while they you were king shit thanks to the coke. Having a terrible comedown with no enduring positives could certainly wear one down before long.