David Paterson (r) discusses marital infidelities as his wife Michelle Paige Paterson watches during a news conference at the state Capitol in Albany, 18 Mar 2008

The new governor of New York, David Paterson, says he used illegal drugs in the past.

In an interview, the 53-year-old Paterson admitted he used marijuana and cocaine when he was a young man in the 1970's. He spoke to the NY1 (New York One) news station.

Soon after taking office last week, the governor said that he and his wife both had extramarital affairs while they were separated several years ago.

Paterson became New York state's first black and first legally blind governor after Eliot Spitzer resigned from office after being alleged to have been a client in a high-priced prostitution ring. Paterson had been Spitzer's lieutenant governor.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.