DR. WALLACE: At school one of my teachers talks a lot about the dangers of illegal drugs and how they can ruin an individual's life very quickly if they are used. There was also a discussion about how drugs are smuggled into America and how much of the overall world drug usage occurs in the USA.

It's really sad and alarming how terrible this problem is. I know some drugs are grown or manufactured here in our country, and this made me wonder if some of the drugs produced here are smuggled into other countries? Or do we just consume all those too? It's depressing to me to learn about all this. — Worried About Illegal Drugs, via email

WORRIED ABOUT ILLEGAL DRUGS: Sadly, the U.S. consumes the largest portion of the world's illicit drug production, and this is why so much smuggling is done bringing the substances into our country: because doing so is so lucrative financially for those who break the law and engage in these activities.

I feel that most of the domestic drug production you mentioned does end up becoming consumed in the USA, but there is likely some small percentage of it that is sent to other nations, primarily Canada. You are quite correct to be very concerned about America's problems with illegal drug consumption. Times have never been more dangerous, especially given the rise in deadly fentanyl lacing across many illegal and even counterfeit substances.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON IN GERMANY?

DR. WALLACE: Upon returning to school this fall, one of my close friends told me his older brother had spent a summer semester overseas in Munich, Germany. He said that while he was there, he was legally allowed to drink beer when he went out with his friends because he's 18!

What is up with this, and why could he legally drink alcohol there but not here now that he's back home to America? — Shocked by Germany's Rules, via email

SHOCKED BY GERMANY'S RULES: The fellow you're referring to indeed was able to take advantage of another country's laws that are in conflict with ours — but just while he was on Germany's soil. In that nation he was indeed legally allowed to drink alcohol at the age of 18. In fact, Germany's alcohol laws are even more lenient than your letter indicated!

You may be surprised to hear that just 16 years old is the legal age to purchase and consume beer, wine and sparkling wine in Germany without adult supervision or express permission!

At 18 years of age in Germany, individuals are allowed to purchase and consume spirits, including distilled beverages. And if you can believe it, minors of the ages of 14 and 15 are allowed to drink beer and wine in private settings or public places but only if accompanied by a parent or guardian. No doubt this information will amaze many readers of this column.

However, this does not come without consequences. There is definitely a sharply increased participation in alcohol consumption at age 16 when the access to beer and wine begins. Studies have shown that there's a significantly increased intensity and frequency of drinking alcohol at that age. This correlates with a recent increase in violent crimes and property crimes for those ages 16 to 18. Studies further show that the negative effects are decidedly more prevalent for males, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Currently in Germany, there is a push to raise the overall legal drinking age for alcohol up to 18 years. There currently appears to be significant public support for this raise in the drinking age, as several citizens would like to now ban legal alcohol consumption for all 16- and 17-year-olds.

I remain steadfast in my opinion that 21 years of age is a far better legalized alcohol consumption age to allow for teenage immaturity to dissipate as much as possible before legalized alcohol consumption is granted. I've seen far too many tragic stories up close and in person — and been informed of other horrific stories via my participation in this column for decades — to think otherwise.

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: Randy Laybourne at Unsplash