DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and have been drinking since I was 14 and taking small amounts of drugs since I was 16. I attend a community college full time and have a part-time job to help support myself, even though I'm living at home with my parents. I get decent grades, but they should be better.

I'm not an alcoholic and I'm not addicted to drugs (I have only tried cocaine twice) because I only smoke pot. However, my girlfriend disagrees. She thinks that I have a problem. I keep telling her I could quit drinking and smoking pot if I really wanted to. Presently, I just don't want to quit. Do you think I have an addiction problem? — Nameless, Oakland, Calif.

NAMELESS: Most addicts and alcoholics believe they can quit using at any time and they don't have a problem, but indeed they do. I showed your letter to the head of the Recovery Service for Chemical Dependency at Healthcare Medical Center in Tustin, California, and she asked me to have you answer the following questionnaire honestly and without help from anyone else, including your girlfriend:

1. Have you ever stayed home from work or school because of drinking chemicals?

2. Do you drink or use drugs to feel more comfortable?

3. Do you drink or use drugs alone?

4. Is drinking or using drugs affecting your reputation?

5. Do you ever drink to escape problems?

6. Does it bother you if someone says that you drink or use drugs too much?

7. Have you ever felt guilty after drinking or using chemicals?

8. Have you ever needed to use chemicals at a certain time each day?

9. Do you borrow money or "do without" other things so you can buy liquor or drugs?

10. Do you feel a sense of power or well-being when you drink or use drugs?

11. Have you lost friends since you started drinking or using drugs?

12. Have you ever been arrested for being under the influence?

13. Have you ever ruined special occasions by drinking or using chemicals?

14. Have you ever felt the need to apologize for behavior after drinking or drugs?

Each question you have answered with a "yes" is a warning signal of a problem. If you have answered "yes" to three or more you can pretty well assume you have a definite problem with alcohol or drugs.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST

DR. WALLACE: I'm a competitive swimmer and train six days a week. My goal is to become an Olympic swimmer. The butterfly is my specialty. I'm lean, but I'm also strong.

Four months ago, we got a new coach who comes from Australia. The first thing he did was to strongly encourage us to consume carbohydrates. I thought carbs were fattening. Fat and swimmers are not compatible. What's the story? — Erin, Irvine, Calif.

ERIN: Many dieticians now advocate high-carb diets for competitive athletes because carbohydrates promote the storage of glycogen, which the body requires for strength and endurance. Those are precisely the qualities you'll need to get a berth on our next Olympic swimming team. I wish you all the best!

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.

Photo credit: Rob Bertholf