DR. WALLACE: Zack and I have been together for over two months. He's a nice guy and I enjoy being with him, but one thing he does really annoys me. Before he and I got together, he was dating Cindy. They broke up, but I'm not totally sure why. When we're together, he's always comparing me to Cindy. And he still emails her every day. He keeps telling me that he has no feelings for her, but I'm starting to wonder. Should I hang in there and hope he forgets all about Cindy or should I, as my father says, "Give him his walking papers"? — Nameless, Phoenix, ARIZ.

NAMELESS: It's time for a "do we really care for each other?" discussion with Zack. Make him aware that you are now involved with him, not Cindy, and that you no longer want to be compared with her. Rarely do couples who end romantic encounters stay close friends. Since that is true, why then is he keeping in daily contact with her by e-mail? That's the question you should ask. Unless he makes you feel like you are his "one and only," take dad's advice.

I LOST THREE YEARS OF MY LIFE

DR. WALLACE: I have been reading your column for quite some time and agreed when you advised teens to stay off drugs. I am now 20 and desperately trying to get my life back on course. I wish I had never smoked my first marijuana cigarette. I started smoking a little pot when I was a high school freshman and by the end of my sophomore year, I was a full-fledged druggie. I barely graduated from high school, yet I once was considered honor society material.

In the past two years I have demolished two automobiles and sent three friends to the hospital, one in very serious condition. Since my first puff of pot, my life has been full of escapades filled with danger and stupidity. Sometimes when I try to recall some of these misadventures, my mind becomes foggy and I just can't remember.

I'm writing this letter as a method of therapy. For the past two months, I've been drug-free and it has been a very difficult mission. All of my drug-using "friends" have dropped me. The only things that keep me clean are a loving sister and the belief that I have the ability to stay drug-free. I now am attending a community college and hope the educational stimulation will help me. I now realize that I lost about three years of precious life and have a lot of catching up to do, but I'm confident I'll make it. — Confident, Orange County, Calif.

CONFIDENT: Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm also confident that you'll make it. Thank your loving sister for her help and do your very best in community college. You will "catch up" in no time!

Once school starts, drop me a line and let me know how you're doing. Best of luck!

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.