Shot up heroin so he could shave in the morning?

Burroughs was a famous Beat writer, junkie, homosexual, etc etc, before those things ever became mainstream (homosexuality) or better understood by society (addiction), and as such an "innovator" (for lack of a better word), he has always been somewhat of an idol/father figure to later generations of Rock and Roll musicians and counter-culture dwellers. This probably reached its peak during the grunge period of the late 80s, early 90s, when he was in a video for Ministry, whose leader (Al Jourgenson) was a former junkie, and, more famously, was wooed, unsuccessfully, to play the man on the cross in Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" video. Cobain, as you can imagine, looked up to him. Burroughs, after meeting Kurt, remarked "That boy frowns for no good reason.", which would indicate that not every junkie, every generation of junkies, or every junkie's reason for being a junkie is the same. What I mean is, Cobain was a depresssive, while The Beats took more joy outnof life than the grunge musicians. Also, Burroughs played the junkie-priest at the end of 'Drugstore Cowboy', which was a direct homage to his status as "precursor/father figure/idol" to all latter-day junkies.

Which is why it makes perfect sense for a quote of his to find its way into this movie. Jerry Stahl also idolized Hubert Selby Jr. who wrote 'Requiem For A Dream' (just figured I'd throw that in since a lot of people on these boards feel the need to compare the 2 movies, and put them in competition with each other).

Also, as far as the comments regarding Burroughs living ubtil 83, and being a junkie for a large portion of that time: all true, except that he felt the need to move back to Kansas, and away from New York, because he knew his addiction was killing him. Which, I find, is a stunning moment of clarity and discipline for any junkie to have experienced. But, as I said, the Beats also loved life. They lived on the edge, for sure, but they didn't fetishize death, like some later generations or movements.