STRAWBERRY AND THE DRUG DILEMMA

Former baseball star Darryl Strawberry, who has all but made a career of
bad choices, will get another chance at drug rehabilitation.

"You are at bat at the bottom of the ninth with two strikes against you,"
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Florence Foster told Strawberry on Thursday when
he appeared before her for probation violation. "You have proven that you
are a winner on the field. Now you have to prove that you are a winner off
the field."

The judge also imposed an 18-month suspended prison sentence, meaning
Strawberry could be locked up if he violates the terms of the ruling.

Prior to Strawberry's appearance in her court, Judge Foster was flooded
with letters and e-mails by people both sympathetic and hostile to the
athlete's plight, which suggests again the nation's dilemma as it tries to
deal with the problems caused by illegal narcotics.

Strawberry's case suggests the United States will continue to fight the war
on drugs with a balanced combination of law enforcement, prevention and
treatment. Without all these mechanisms, how many individuals would be
willing to seek and receive drug treatment?

Poor Stawberry. Battling both cancer and drug addiction, he's been in a
long and tragic slump. The millions of baseball fans who remember his great
days on the field hope he can now hit his way out of it at last.