Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 Source: Examiner, The (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ Author: Fionnan Sheahan MARADONA FOLLOWS IN FOOTSTEPS OF A LONG LIST OF COCAINE USERS DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA, the greatest footballer of his generation and of all time for those too young to remember the heyday of the Boys from Brazil has arguably now completed his longrunning fall from grace. Argentina's World Cup winner arrived in Havana last week to receive treatment for his cocaine addiction. The former superstar now suffers from cocaine addiction, withdrawal symptoms, massive blood pressure and possible cardiovascular atrophy. Past personalities to have dabbled with the drug include Sigmund Freud, but in more recent years a litany of stars have suffered the consequences. Ageing rockers such as Aerosmith are just some of many from the music world to live up to the stereotypical lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Explaining how he had since mended his ways, Aerosmith lead singer, Steve Tyler estimated that he must have hoovered millions of dollars worth of cocaine up his nose. In the mid 1970's, David Bowie set off on years of cocaine-fuelled excess in Los Angeles, documented in some detail in his now ex-wife’s subsequent autobiography. At the height of his fame, Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher was let off with just a slap on the wrist by British authorities, who decided to issue him a warning rather than charge him with cocaine possession. IT girl Tara Palmer Tompkinson was not so fortunate and last year confessed to being a reformed cocaine and alcohol addict. Footballer Paul Merson is another member of the cocaine confessors club. Though remembered for coming out with one of the most famous cocaine quotes, Robin Williams beat his addiction after a serious drugs problem in the mid 80's to rise up in the Hollywood hierarchy. Hollywood's most celebrated coke case of recent years is Robert Downey Jnr, who inherited his predilection for drugs from his father. Downey Jnr's role as a cocaine addict in the film Less Than Zero required little preparation. In June 1996, he was arrested for driving while under the influence, for possession of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and black-tar heroin, and possession of a gun. Spending time in jail wasn't enough to teach him a lesson, however and there followed a series of further cocaine related incidents. True Romance star, Christian Slater followed the Hollywood survival guide step-by-step and checked himself into Rehab in 1997 after his cocaine problem got out of order. The actor was arrested after allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend at a party, and then biting the abdomen of a man who tried to intervene. The Muscles from Brussels, Jean Claude Van Damme was divorced by his fourth wife, Darcy LaPier who claimed he regularly beat her and that he suffered from mood swings as a result of his cocaine addiction. The action star subsequently went through rehab in 1996. Cocaine may yet claim a high profile political victim this year. US Presidential candidate, George W Bush stands accused of taking cocaine but only says he has not taken drugs in a quarter of a century. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D