What I find problematic, is equating the word "high" with "wasted" ... High ... in a higher state of mind.

But of course, there is a connection, because people tend to force that high so much, that they just do too much ... and also forgetting that you can't be "high" forever. What goes up, usually comes down.

(just being pedantic, in general I agree with you)

I'm curious what life-enriching experience you can have with "a little bit" of heroin or meth.

A "little bit" of heroin is good for pain control. It is prescribed as such to pregnant women giving birth in the UK (it's called "diamorphine" but it's chemically the same). Amphetamines are prescribed in the army to keep soldiers and pilots awake.

Amphetamines are also the basis of most ADD medications.

... I think OP was using those examples because they're the stereotypical horror story drugs, but their analogues are everywhere.

Lack of horrible pain, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodone which is in the same category as Heroin.

I didn't equate them. Saying "I don't think people should drive drunk" doesn't mean I want the legal limit blood alcohol level reduced to epsilon.