Smokeless Tobacco is Just as Harmful as Cigarettes by Dr. Robert Wallace on Creators.com

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Smokeless Tobacco is Just as Harmful as Cigarettes

DR. WALLACE: I'd like to add my two cents' worth on the use of smokeless tobacco. Besides being a health hazard, it's also a dirty habit. My dad chews tobacco. When he does so, he goes outside, sits on the porch and spits. I'm embarrassed to bring my friends over because of his constant spitting. I don't know which is worse, the health hazard or the dirty habit. — Nameless, Hammond, La.

NAMELESS: It appears the health hazard is a lot worse. According to C. Everett Koop, the former U.S. surgeon general, smokeless tobacco can cause cancer, a number of other unpleasant oral conditions, and can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.

Some 12 million Americans use smokeless tobacco products, but they are not a safe substitute for smoking. Dr. Koop's message about such products is exactly the same as it is for cigarettes: "If you chew or dip, quit. If you don't, don't start! It is not a sign of virility."

Many people are taking Dr. Koop's advice, including professional baseball players who used chewing tobacco as a macho status symbol.

READER HAS A GRAMMAR QUESTION

DR. WALLACE: For me, your column in the Post-Tribune is a pleasure to read not only because it is interesting, but also because it is the opinion of an educated man concerning the problems of today's teenagers.

My father had an educational background similar to yours, and as a teacher, he corrected the grammar of my sisters and me all through our teenage years. Although I now appreciate the fact that he did so, it was often quite irritating.

Today, I find that it is almost a burden to know the many mistakes I hear on TV, the radio and among the people I know. I have one or two friends with whom I can discuss mistakes in grammar that are made by politicians, journalists, writers and others. And this brings me to the reason I am writing to you.

In your advice to a young girl whose friend had gotten pregnant you said: "She needs all the advice she can get to pull her life together, for her own sake, and even more importantly, for the baby's." Important is an adjective, and in the comparative sense, things are important, more important or most important. Can an adjective become an adverb? I cannot find the answer in "A dictionary of Modern English Usage" by H.W. Fowler. Will you please tell me? — Nameless, Gary, Ind.

NAMELESS: My parents were born in Ireland, left school and went to work when they were 12 years old. When they immigrated to this great country, they did not speak the "Queen's English."

Once at Emerson High School in our hometown Gary, Ind., and with the help of several superb and patient teachers (especially Miss Benscoter), I learned to speak and write correctly. I do slip occasionally, but not this time.

The adjective "important" can become the adverb "importantly," which means "in an important manner." You will find this in "Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary." A local library should have a copy.

P.S.: Thanks for the kind words.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Teens are seen as Dangerous Drivers to Insure

DR. WALLACE: I am a 19-year-old guy who purchased my first automobile. I had been driving my mother's car. Since I am employed, I have to pay for my own car insurance. When I got my policy, I was shocked at the cost. I'm too young to drink and don't do drugs. I'm also a very careful driver who has never been in an accident or had a traffic ticket. I don't wear glasses and am a former high school athlete with excellent reflexes.

I feel ripped off. I feel cheated. I feel I've been conned. — Nick, Lynn, Mass.

NICK: I receive many letters from teen car owners complaining that they have to pay higher insurance rates. But the fact of the matter is, teen drivers as a group have a poor safety record — thanks to inexperience and the "youthful exuberance" of some.

For instance, according to recently released data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 78 percent of fatal accidents involving teen drivers were due to driver error, compared to 63 percent among drivers ages 20 through 49. And, when a teen was driving, 31 percent of deaths were caused by speeding, compared to 21 percent for older drivers.

These statistics show why insurance companies ask for an additional premium to insure younger drivers. The statistics are also the reason why parents get worried when their children ride with a teen driver.

Of course, there are many safe and courteous teen drivers like you on the road. Only a few are idiots behind the wheel, but they give all teens a bad reputation. A decade or two ago, it was only the guys who drove recklessly, but lately, I'm afraid, some of the girls have caught up with them.

MEET WITH COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS SON'S ACADEMIC STRUGGLES

DR. WALLACE: My son is intelligent. He should have A's and B's on his report card; instead he's bringing home a few B's and mostly C's. He rarely does any homework. When I ask him about this, he tells me he does his homework at school or that his teachers don't require homework.

I am a single mother and can't take time off from work to talk to his teachers. What can I do to get him to reach his educational potential? He keeps telling me he wants to become an attorney, but with the grades he's receiving, he will never be an attorney. In fact, he might not even have good enough grades to attend college. Please give me your recommendations. He should be an honor student! — Mom, Phoenix.

MOM: Even though you are a single mother and working full time, you need to find time to visit your son's school. He's clearly doing no more than just getting by; it hasn't dawned on him that there's a connection between what he does now and whether he reaches his dream of becoming an attorney.

I applaud you for being concerned about your son's performance, rather than just shrugging it off and calling it "good enough." It's time you make an appointment with your son's counselor to discuss what might be keeping him from making better grades. Almost all employers will give parents time to visit their children's school during work hours on occasion. If this is not possible, see if the counselor will meet with you before or after your office hours. School personnel will usually go out of their way to help a student and confer with a parent.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Move on From Loser Ex-Boyfriend

DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and need your advice. I dated a guy for four years, and out of the clear blue he told me that he wanted to break up. That was a year ago. He is 21 and currently dating a 16-year-old girl.

What confuses me is that he still says he loves me and would do anything for me. He calls me about once a week, and we talk for over an hour at a time. I still like this guy and can't seem to forget him.

What should I do? I know he is not using me. — Sandra, Brunswick, Ga.

SANDRA: I can see why you're confused; he obviously is, too. He may not be using you, but he's clinging to you as he pursues his relationship with a 16-year-old. If she doesn't work out, he still has a fallback — you.

This guy is not for you. Since he deserted you after a four-year relationship, what makes you think he will return and be a faithful guy? You won't appreciate my advice, but you will have a more enjoyable life if you take it. Suspend all contact with this guy and get on with your life. This guy appears to be a loser.

DAD SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN PROMISE TO SON

DR. WALLACE: My dad promised that he would give me $20 for every "A" I got on my midterm report card. I received three A's and three B's when I opened my report that was mailed home. These are the best grades I have ever received.

When I asked my dad for the $60, he said he was only kidding about paying me for good grades. If he did pay me, it would be a bribe and he doesn't like bribery.

When I told him that he had made a promise, he got defensive saying that parents have the right to break a promise to their children.

I thought when someone made a promise, it meant that the person would keep that promise. Please reply to my letter because I know you will say that my dad was wrong. — Nameless, Dallas.

NAMELESS: Your dad did you wrong! A promise is not to be broken, even when made by a parent to the child. If it was impossible for the promise to be honored, then an honest explanation should be made. But all is not lost. Three A's and a B are wonderful grades, and in this case, you are the winner.

TEEN NEEDS TO LISTEN TO BOYFRIEND AND WAIT ON MARRIAGE

DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend and I are both 19 and have been dating for the past two years. He is the most loving guy in the world. I love him very much and know he loves me. Both of us are living at home with our parents while attending college. We will soon finish our second year, with two more years to go before we graduate.

Everything is wonderful except for one thing.

I want to get married soon, but he wants to wait until after we graduate. This causes us to have huge arguments. He feels that I'm putting undue pressure on him, and he will not compromise. I know the reason why he feels this way. His parents have drilled it into his head that it would be unwise for us to get married before we graduate. I can't buy that!

I love my boyfriend and want to make it official. Please advise me what to do. — Nameless, Dekalb, Ill.

NAMELESS: I agree with your boyfriend. Marriage demands full-time commitment, which cannot easily be given when you're both full-time students. The pressure to maintain good grades, have sufficient income and get used to one another as husband and wife would put an undue strain on the marriage.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Teen's Boyfriend Beat the Difficult Withdrawals from Heroin

DR. WALLACE: I'm dating a guy who was addicted to heroin. But now after professional treatment, he has been clean for over six months. We have been seeing one another for about two months, so I didn't know him when he was an addict. Whenever I ask him about heroin, all he ever says is, "I don't want to talk about it." I was not prying into his past life; I was only trying to find out about the effects it has on a person.

Will you please enlighten me? I promise I won't mention heroin ever again to anyone. — Nameless, Clifton, N.J.

NAMELESS: First of all, the guy you are seeing is to be congratulated for eliminating heroin from his life. Heroin is one of the most difficult drugs for an addict to overcome. There are recorded cases where a heroin user became addicted after using the drug only a couple of times.

Heroin is an extremely potent drug. When used, heroin affects the central nervous system, reducing the user's ability to feel pain and causing drowsiness. The initial effect is intense pleasure, followed by a much longer period of relaxed sleepiness. These effects wear off after a few hours. The addict's body becomes dependent on the drug, and he or she becomes desperate for another injection.

The risks of heroin addiction are great: physical neglect, infection and disease from dirty needles, accidental overdose as well as inability to support the habit, often resulting in crime.

There are more than a half-million heroin addicts in the United States, according to recent estimates.

TEEN IS HESITANT ABOUT FUTURE STEPFATHER MOVING IN

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and live alone with my mom, whom I love very much. Mom has a steady boyfriend; they have been together for the past six years. I really like Chuck. I can turn to him when I need advice or have problems at school. He has been a great friend and the father I never had.

Last week the three of us went out for dinner together, and my mom told me that she and Chuck were getting married. I should have been happy, but I wasn't. Now that he is going to live in our house, I'm afraid my mom won't have as much time for me anymore. Mom and I have been alone for 14 years, and I'm not sure I want another person between us, even though he loves Mom and me very much. — Nameless, St. Catharines, Ontario.

NAMELESS: I understand your concern. After all, you and Mom have been a twosome for 14 years. Once she's married, things will not be the same at home. From what you've told me, however, there is every chance they will be better. Chuck obviously loves you as well as your mom — he will work to secure your happiness as well as hers.

It will take a little time to adjust, but I have a feeling that you all will become one happy family. Having known Chuck for six years, you are aware of his good qualities. Chances are you will respect him even more when he's your stepfather.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Teen Hopes to Eliminate Shoplifting Habit

DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and really need your help. I come from a good family (my dad's a teacher) and I'm not desperate for money.

Still, I shoplift regularly. I've been shoplifting for more than three years and have never been caught, but sometimes I think it would be good if I had been. Most times I steal things that I really don't need or want, and when I get home I always feel guilty after a visit to a department store.

It is easy to shoplift and I just can't seem to resist the temptation. I am a good student and plan to go to college. I really want to get rid of this habit — and soon. I don't want a criminal record, and the embarrassment to my family if I were apprehended would be unbearable. Please help me! — Nameless, Vancouver, British Columbia.

NAMELESS: Admitting that you have a problem and asking for advice are the first steps on the road to solving your problem. To stop shoplifting, you must really want to do so — be willing to make substantive lifestyle changes.

For instance, don't go shopping alone. Avoid window-shopping. Only visit department stores when you intend to purchase a specific item. Never carry a purse, only a wallet.

To prove to yourself that you are truly turning over a new leaf, you must rid your life of anything you have stolen. If the item has never been used, you can mail it back to the store. If it has been used, give it to the Salvation Army or some other charitable organization, ensuring that a needy person will get some use out of it.

Finally, if the impulse to shoplift is too strong for you to overcome on your own, seek help from a professional counselor. Prayer will also help, regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

MOTHER OF EIGHT OFFERS DATING TIPS

DR. WALLACE: I'm the mother of eight children. Two teens are still at home. The other six are in or have graduated from college. You might say that I have some experience with teens of dating age. I am a loyal reader of your column, and I'm amazed at the number of teens who must be back at home at 10 p.m., even when they have been on a date. What are these parents thinking?

My husband and I try to go to a movie every other Friday evening. If we catch the 9 p.m. performance and then have a snack afterward, we rarely get home before midnight.

When teens earn good grades and are exemplary citizens, they should be allowed to enjoy their date and not break any speed records trying to make a deadline. Why make a teen nervous because the ordered pizza is a few minutes late in arriving to the table?

I probably have strong feelings about this because as a young college student, who had to have a job to help pay for my education, I was locked out of my own home if I arrived a few minutes after curfew — even in the dead of a Philadelphia winter! My parents wouldn't trust me with a house key. — Mom, Seattle.

MOM: Who can argue with the mother of eight successful children? One of the best attributes of a wise parent is the use of good old common sense.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Sex Isn't Linked to Complexion Issues

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and recently started a sexual relationship with the guy I'm eventually going to marry. About three weeks after we started having sex, my face started breaking out. This is my first time ever having a complexion problem of any kind.

My friend told me that a sexual relationship can cause acne. Is this true? — Nameless, Hammond, La.

NAMELESS: There is no evidence that sex has anything to do with acne. Your complexion problem and the startup of a sexual relationship are coincidental. Visit a dermatologist. In all likelihood, the condition can be controlled, if not cleared up completely.

I'd be negligent if I didn't remind you how unwise it is to enter into a premarital sexual relationship. Many negatives haunt such affairs, including contracting a sexually transmitted disease, becoming a mother and suffering a loss of self-esteem, to name but a few.

TEEN MUST WAIT AT LEAST A MONTH FOR MARIJUANA TO LEAVE BODY

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 19-year-old high school graduate and have been laid off from my job because of the current recession, and I can't find another position.

Because of this, I have been considering joining the military. My problem is that since I've been out of work, I started smoking a few marijuana cigarettes a week. I can afford them because I receive a weekly unemployment check and have returned home to live with my parents.

I know that if I decide to go the military, I would have to pass a physical exam. My only concern would be that marijuana residue could be found in my system. How long do I need to stay away from the weed to be drug free? Believe me, once I pass the test I will stop using marijuana. — Nameless, Peoria, Ill.

NAMELESS: I hope you're not planning to take your physical in the next couple of weeks; it takes four to six weeks before THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) is completely eliminated from the body. Alcohol, in contrast, is water-soluble and washes quickly out of the body — at the rate of one drink per hour.

THC is fat-soluble and merges with fatty body tissues, thus taking much longer to be expelled from the system. Organs that have high fat content include the brain and reproductive organs. Regular pot smokers are never free from THC.

BEER HAS A LOT OF CALORIES AND ISN'T CONSIDERED HEALTHY

DR. WALLACE: I am sort of a "health food nut." I encourage my mom to cook nutritious foods and to eliminate high-calorie junk foods, such as potato chips and greasy foods. So far, everything is working well — all except for the beer (a six-pack per day) that my dad consumes.

He has been trying to convince me that beer is not a bad food because it contains a lot of healthy grains. Is this true? — Nameless, Holland, Mich.

NAMELESS: Beer is high in calories and, as a carbohydrate, it contains no nutrients, vitamins, minerals or protein. Excessive consumption is bad for many reasons, but the most visible one — at least on males — is the beer belly. It's unsightly proof that beer has a lot of calories and no nutritional value.

Tell Dad that if he stopped his beer habit, he would save at least $1,095 a year. I have estimated the cost of each beer at 50 cents, but the figure could go much higher. This just might encourage your dad to rethink the "healthy" benefits of beer.

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'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

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Smokeless Tobacco is Just as Harmful as Cigarettes

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