Whether or not this will help diffuse the big, bad drug habit story, I have no idea. But it's interesting to note that his pals sure didn't think of him as someone even coming close to being a "druggy":
Mr. Obama’s account of his younger self and drugs, though, significantly differs from the recollections of others. That could suggest he was so private about his use that few people were aware of it, that the memories of those who knew him decades ago are fuzzy or rosier out of a desire to protect him, or that he added some writerly touches in his memoir to make the challenges he overcame seem more dramatic.
Or we could just ask him.
In more than three dozen interviews, friends, classmates and mentors from his high school and Occidental recalled Mr. Obama as being grounded, motivated and poised, someone who did not appear to be grappling with any drug problems and seemed only to dabble with marijuana.
“It didn’t stand out to me,” said Michael Ramos, who was one of Mr. Obama’s closest friends at the Punahou School in Honolulu. “It was not the focal point of our lives. It wasn’t like we all thought we’ve got to do something to help Barack because it’s getting out of control.” About Mr. Obama’s using cocaine, he said, “I didn’t know him to do that.”
The point is, we have a dry drunk in the White House who refuses to acknowledge his own past cocaine use. His extra special BVPE!* got drunk and shot a guy in the face. Then he lied about it. Consequences? None.
Obama's Big High School Adventure pales in comparison. You don't agree? I'm ready to take you on if you don't, 'cause I'm big and tough and threatening like that.
*Best Vice President EVER! See video.
Mike, "Bit part" is a common phrase used in acting (my field of expertise, btw). So, that part is valid. But I understand what you're saying, and hope others haven't interpreted things the way you think they have.