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Darryl Strawberry shares story of addiction recovery to Franklin Park Fellowship of Christian Athletes

By WJBD Staff Mar 27, 2023 | 8:33 AM
Darryl Strawberry talks to a Fellowship of Christian Athlete dinner at Frankllin Park Middle School on Saturday night.

Former Major League baseball player Darryl Strawberry who was banned from the game in 2000 after testing positive for cocaine shared his story of recovery and his work now as an ordained minister with the Franklin Park Middle School Fellowship of Christian Athletes over the weekend.

Strawberry says his best advice is don’t start on drugs and alcohol.

“A lot of young people have made bad decisions early.  It’s been costly.  It’s cost their life.  When you think about the epidemic we have in this country with the young people and addiction, it’s destroying their lives before they even have a chance.  So I’m doing my part to let them know, don’t start drinking and doing drugs, because its hard to get off of it.”

Strawberry says he is in his 27th year of recovery and only made it out of his addiction through finding his faith, which was the turning point in his life.

“Most communities say we don’t have that problem, but we find out across this country young kids are losing their lives.  Not only to addiction, but to suicide and anxiety so we need to help and encourage them and tell them faith is greater than any depression, loneliness or whatever.”

Strawberry notes celebrities have the same life problems but most won’t tell them they have a problem.   He says he was fortunate he didn’t die like so many others.    Strawberry, who now lives in O’Fallon, Missouri, has been sharing his story and faith as an ordained minister over the past 18 years.     Retired educator Steve Smith of Salem arranged for Strawberry’s visit because he felt his message was important for young people to hear.