DR. WALLACE: As the parent of a 12-year-old daughter, I would appreciate any tips that will keep my daughter from getting involved in drugs. I'm sure many parents will be interested in your answer. — Mom, Galesburg, Ill.

MOM: Here's the opposite of what you asked for — a how-to list for parents to "encourage" drug use, published by the Chemical People Institute of Boston. I'm sure you and many other parents will get the message!

You can increase the odds that your kids will use drugs:

— By not insisting that parties be supervised.

— By not setting and enforcing limits.

— By being unaware of where your children are.

— By offering alcohol to your own and other youngsters (ranging from one glass of wine at dinner to alcohol for a whole party).

— By hosting a party where alcohol or other drugs are being used, with the rationalization, "I'd rather have them drinking here than somewhere else," or "I'll take their keys so they can't drive."

— By ignoring the evidence that may be left in a house after a party or in a child's room or car.

— By leaving youngsters alone for a week or even a weekend.

SHOULD 15-YEAR-OLDS BE ALLOWED TO DATE?

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 15-year-old guy and live with my stepmother and father. I don't have any sisters or brothers. My father is a good man and I really love him, but my stepmother tells me what I can and cannot do.

About three weeks ago, I met a really nice girl at a friend's Christmas party. It seemed like a magnet drew us together. We spent much of the party talking with each other. When the party ended, she gave me her telephone number and asked me to call her! She said it would be nice if we could go out together and I agreed. She lives about 75 miles from me.

I want to go out with her, but my stepmother insists that I've got to wait until I'm 16 before dating, although when she found out that I was going to write to you, she said she would take your comments into consideration. I won't have my 16th birthday until early June and I would like to take Connie out before then. Usually it's the girls who write complaining about not being able to date, but my stepmother feels that 16 is the magic dating age for both guys and girls.

I know this won't be taken into consideration, but almost all the guys my age can date if they want to. Some do, while others choose to wait. For me, my time has come. I know we will have to coordinate transportation if we do go on a date, but we can work that out. First, I need to get permission to have the date.

I'm an average teen who gets average grades, and I've never been in any serious trouble. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, and I'm considered a pretty levelheaded teen.

Do you think I should be allowed to take Connie to a movie? Please hurry. I don't want to call Connie until I know I can ask her out. — Brandon, Pasadena, Calif.

BRANDON: I feel that 15-year-olds who are dependable, trustworthy and reasonably mature should be allowed to date. Having a social life is important for a teen. However some teens, that are also 15 and maybe older, should not be dating if they lack the maturity and dependability that you possess.

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 [email protected]. 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.