NO PITY FOR DRUG ABUSERS

I strongly disagree with the "oh-poor-baby" sentiment expressed by Sheryl
McCarthy's sympathetic but misguided column ["Strawberry and Downey Need
Help -Not Jail Time," April 30].

The time has come to stop coddling the spoiled rotten celebrity addicts
once and for all. Ordinary mortals would be facing some very serious jail
time for exactly the same crimes committed by Darryl Strawberry and Robert
Downey Jr. The last time I checked, possession of cocaine was still a
felony offense.

Has it ever occurred to anybody that neither Strawberry nor Downey wants to
be rehabilitated? Both men possess self-destructive personalities that have
sabotaged their efforts to become clean and sober. Even Strawberry's battle
against colon cancer is no excuse for his substance-abuse problems;
millions of people also are treated for cancer without becoming addicted to
cocaine.

Downey and Strawberry areself-indulgent junkies who just cannot kick their
habits. Perhaps the time has come to simply let both these celebrity
crybabies wallow in their drug-induced stupor.

Sharon Rutman, Far Rockaway