Gooden Says He First Tried Cocaine in High School, Used It Once a Week

NEW YORK — Pitcher Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets says he first tried cocaine in high school and was using it once a week before being caught this spring, the New York Post reported in today’s editions.

Gooden also told the paper he never used cocaine during the season or in the Mets clubhouse and that as far as he knows none of his teammates ever knew of his problem.

“No one really knew because when I did it in spring training, it’d always be away from the clubhouse,” the newspaper quoted Gooden as saying. “I never, ever, brought any of the stuff near the clubhouse. And I never pulled it out in front of Straw (teammate Darryl Strawberry).”

The Mets announced on April 1 that Gooden had tested positive for substance abuse. He entered the Smithers Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center one day later He is 3-1 since returning to the Mets.