Yeah, I can see both sides of that. Either wanting the pills because of his past addiction or thinking he could handle them no problem. Or both.
Plus he had a nasty cocaine problem in his past. I still wince every time I remember that story from the Runnin’ Down a Dream documentary where he left a recording session so angry and high that he punched the wall and shattered the bones in his hand. Just awful.
I also love when he’s asked about his drug problem and he says something like, “The only thing drugs do is make you want more drugs… Why, do you have some?” And he cracks himself up. Love it.