The first single, "Life Is Beautiful," debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

[2] Designed to be an accompaniment to The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, the autobiography of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx co-written by Sixx and Ian Gittens that details his severe heroin addiction in 1987, The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack is a concept album that captures Sixx's basic story of his life during that time, although the album can stand alone.

The story begins with the reasons for Sixx starting his diary, followed by his first (albeit temporary) abstinence from heroin, his relapse and mental and physical decline, his near-fatal overdose and out-of-body experience, and finally, his emotional recovery, which eventually led to long-term sobriety.

[5] A deluxe edition of The Heroin Diaries was released on November 25, 2008, exclusively on sale through Best Buy.

On October 26, 2017, the band released the 10th anniversary edition of the album, which features additional tracks; re-recordings in alternate arrangements of "Life Is Beautiful", "Accidents Can Happen", and "Girl with Golden Eyes".