DR. WALLACE: My ex-boyfriend is engaged to a real tramp. The only reason he's going to marry her is to spite me. His fiancee hates me, and I hate her. I've called my ex-boyfriend a dozen times or more to find out if he really loves her or if it's just because she has sex with him (which I never did). He says he loves her and tells me to stop calling him. But I know he enjoys hearing from me and I also know that he loves me because I can hear it in the tone of his voice.

He's supposed to marry her this fall, but don't bet on it. I'll do everything possible to stop the wedding. I found him first and he's mine! His fiancee doesn't love him the way I do. What's the best way to get him to change his mind? - Nameless, Tyler, Tex.

NAMELESS: Jealousy is a volatile emotion that can destroy you if you let it. It's time for you to let go of your ex-boyfriend and let him go on with his life. But, more importantly, you desperately need to go on with yours! Refocus your attention and start planning for a wonderful future.

It seems that most of us mortals have been hurt in love at least once. It seems to be a prerequisite for ultimate happiness. You will fall in love again; I'm sure of this. It may not seem possible right now because your emotions are so storm-tossed, but you will. And when you do, you will forget all your preceding "loves."

Contact me again in a month or so and let me know how you're doing.

TEEN GIRLS SMOKE MORE THAN BOYS

DR. WALLACE: In a recent column you said that the younger teens are when they first start smoking, the harder it is for them to kick the habit.

At what age do teens start smoking? Where can I find the latest data on teen smoking? I'm planning to take a health class next semester, and I want to get a head start on teen smoking. — Lori, Denver, Colo.

LORI: The American Lung Association has an abundance of informative booklets on the subject of tobacco use. One such booklet, "Facts About Cigarette Smoking," addresses your question. It reports that of the high school seniors who smoke or have ever tried it, approximately 25 percent reported smoking their first cigarette before sixth grade; 50 percent were smoking by grade eight and 75 percent by grade nine. As you can see, most teens start smoking at a very tender age. It has taken many decades, but teen girls now have a higher percentage of smokers than teen boys.

The shocking statistic is that if the young people in the United States now smoking continue to smoke cigarettes as adults, then at least 5 million of them will die of smoking-related diseases. Each year over 390,000 Americans die from the effects of cigarette smoking.

It's extremely important for young people to understand the serious health-related problems that are caused by smoking. It's much more productive to convince a teen not to start smoking rather than to stop smoking as an adult.

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.