Tara Conner is an alcoholic.

But that's not so uncommon in Hollywood. Just ask Mel Gibson or Lindsay Lohan. What helps to set Miss USA apart in that case?

Smack. White powder. Cocaine. Conner admits - in an interview with Matt Lauer on Today - that she dabbled in this and other hard drugs.

"I have done cocaine, yeah," Tara said. "I've tried several different things."

Included in that, of course, would be make out sessions with Miss Teen USA, Katie Blair.

People connected with the pageant had said ne of the big problems with Tara's situation was that her hair follicles had tested positive for cocaine â€" a much more sensitive test than urinalysis.

We wish Tara a full recovery - and hope others don't jump to any drug-laden conclusions when it comes to Lauren Nelson, the new Miss America.

Give her a chance.