DR. WALLACE: About seven months ago, I moved to Kansas to live with my grandma. While I was living in Illinois, I was involved in many bad things. I drank, did drugs and went out with a lot of guys. When I moved here, I decided to change my lifestyle because I really didn't like myself and how I was living my life.

A couple of months ago, I met a really nice guy at a church party here in Wichita and we hit it off right away. Then I ran into him at the mall one day, and he asked me out. We have been dating now for a couple of weeks and last night we really started to get acquainted and he told me some of his past "adventures." There was nothing bad about them, and some were pretty funny.

When we said good night he said he'd like me to share some of my own life with him on our next date. I said I would. But, Dr. Wallace, I really don't want to share my entire past with him. He thinks I'm a sweet, innocent girl and I'd like him to hold onto that image as I'm planning to absolutely live up to it! I don't want to lie to him either, but I'm not sure what to do. How can I handle this? — Nameless, Wichita, Kans.

NAMELESS: You should only tell this guy about enjoyable activities when you were living in Illinois. You have changed your lifestyle now and telling him about those "many bad things" that took place there would be a huge mistake. You won't have to lie — you can honestly tell him about the good times in Illinois and suggest activities that you enjoy doing. Your new lifestyle is all you need to be concerned with. Congratulations for making a positive change in your life!

SEATBELTS SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES YEARLY

DR. WALLACE: I'm taking a driver's education course at my high school. Next fall I will actually get behind the wheel and apply what I've learned. Our teacher, the football coach, gives us assignments so we can share useful information with the rest of the class.

My assignment is to find out how many lives are saved annually because passengers and drivers wear seatbelts. Can you help me get an A on my assignment? And please tell me where your information came from. — Stephanie, Dallas, Tex.

STEPHANIE: The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that seatbelts save more than 10,000 lives every year, and prevent or minimize more than 350,000 injuries. I hope this information gets you an A.

Better yet, I hope it convinces you to buckle up every time you're in a car, even when you're only going two blocks to the grocery store!

MARIJUANA STAYS IN THE BODY UP TO FIVE WEEKS

DR. WALLACE: I've been told by a doctor that cocaine stays in your system about a day and heroin two to three days, but I'm shocked to find out that marijuana can stay for up to a month. Is this really true, and if it is, why? — Nameless, Michigan City, Ind.

NAMELESS: Most drugs stay in the body for three or four days, but marijuana can linger up to five weeks. This is because it finds a home in the body's fatty tissues. That's another good reason not to smoke pot!

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: Ryosuke Yagi