NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York Gov. David Paterson admitted during a television interview Monday that he used cocaine and marijuana during his early twenties.
Gov. David Paterson says he tried cocaine "a couple of times" when he was "22 or 23."
Appearing on an NY-1 political show, Paterson was asked about using cocaine and said he'd "tried it a couple of times" when he was "22 or 23." About marijuana, he said he hadn't touched it "since the late 70s."
Paterson said that during his 2006 campaign for lieutenant governor he had been asked on camera about drug use.
He said he had answered "in the affirmative." 
Watch Paterson talk about his past drug use »
Paterson, 53, became governor of New York a week ago after Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid his alleged connection to a prostitution ring.
One day after he was sworn in, Paterson said he was involved in some affairs several years ago during a troubled period in his marriage.
Paterson is regarded in New York as a politician of integrity who is capable of building consensus in the capital in Albany after the Spitzer shake-up.
The Patersons have two children. E-mail to a friend 
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