Well, it's pretty clear that song is about alcoholism, and not some other sort of drug, due to the numerous alcohol references.
I interpreted the "Kings of medicine" as being alcohol, which one would use to solve their problems, however, I think in this song, they realize that it's not really helping anything.
So to me the song represents the realization that he's in this awful state, and his alcoholism is a problem he doesn't know how to cope with.
However in the end, despite his fears, I triumphant tone can be found in the music, perhaps implying that now that he's faced this problem, he can solve it.
Well, it's pretty clear that song is about alcoholism, and not some other sort of drug, due to the numerous alcohol references. I interpreted the "Kings of medicine" as being alcohol, which one would use to solve their problems, however, I think in this song, they realize that it's not really helping anything. So to me the song represents the realization that he's in this awful state, and his alcoholism is a problem he doesn't know how to cope with. However in the end, despite his fears, I triumphant tone can be found in the music, perhaps implying that now that he's faced this problem, he can solve it.
But that's just me.