DR. WALLACE: I've been going out with a guy for over a month and we had a great time together. But last week he really started to come on strong and I told him I would not get involved with him sexually. I don't think he believed me because he said he'd call me in a week for my final answer because he thought my answer might change.

He called a week later and asked if I had changed my mind. When I told him I had not changed my mind, he called me a loser and hung up on me. I don't care about losing him, but when he called me a "loser" it really bothered me. No one has ever called me a loser before. I'm in the honor society, teach Sunday school and volunteer at a children's hospital. I can't seem to get over this and need a little encouragement. — Depressed, Miami, Fla.

DEPRESSED: You are definitely not a loser! But this guy is — big-time! He lost an intelligent, mature and principled young lady.

LIFE WON'T SEEM WORTH LIVING

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 20-year-old female who recently dropped out of Stanford University. I graduated from high school with high honors and great expectations for a Stanford degree, but I doubt if I will ever return to school.

I'm not writing this letter to ask for help; I'm writing it for the benefit of your teen readers who might just be beginning to experiment with drugs.

I am a drug addict who is unable to stop abusing despite three attempts at treatment. At first I started using drugs to experience a high, but eventually I used them just to feel normal. In order to maintain my habit, I've had to lie, cheat, steal and manipulate on a daily basis. I've mentally abused my family and friends, broken the law, had my stomach pumped many times, spent time in several psychiatric hospitals and have attempted suicide, all because of my addiction.

Everybody, including family, friends and doctors, has given up on me because I have repeatedly abused their trust. My drugs are more important to me than these relationships. When I look into the mirror, I can only cry, for I have lost all my self-respect.

I am well aware that if I don't somehow rid myself of drugs, I will soon be dead. I know that abstinence is my only salvation, but it is a constant struggle.

Teens, if you are into drugs, stop immediately, before you get hooked! Once you get hooked, you are headed down a path of self-destruction. Before long you will be just like I am, and life won't seem worth living. — Addict, Alameda, Calif.

ADDICT: Thanks so much for thinking of others in the midst of your own life-and-death struggle. Highly impressionable teens need to hear from people like you who have fractured their lives through drug abuse.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECEIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

DR. WALLACE: How long does it take for acne to disappear without the aid of a doctor? I have acne but can't afford a doctor. — Nameless, Hackensack, N.J.

NAMELESS: Acne may not disappear until the early 20s, and occasionally it continues beyond even that. Some people in their 30s and 40s suffer from acne.

But take heart. Effective and inexpensive treatments are now available. Contact a dermatologist and discuss your financial problem. I'm sure you will find a solution. You will be pleasantly surprised at the relatively low cost of acne treatment. And it's important that you receive medical assistance.

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. Email 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.

Photo credit: William Murphy