DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and an only child who has a single parent. My father is out of the picture, so it's just my mom and me.

My mom has always struggled with holding a job, and I've known for years that she drinks too much alcohol. But lately she's been taking other substances, and I can tell. She's really struggling with her life right now. Sometimes she's even gone overnight for up to two or three days before I see her again.

My best friend at school knows about my situation, so she and her mom and dad allow me to stay at their house when my mom is on one of her binges. When my mom is in her right mind, I know she loves me and does her best to take care of me, but now those times are becoming fewer and fewer, and I'm getting really worried for both of us.

Do you think it's possible that I could ask my best girlfriend's parents to adopt me? — My Mom Is Really Unreliable Now, via email

MY MOM IS REALLY UNRELIABLE NOW: It's very fortunate that you have a close friend with parents that look out for you. You need to bring your situation to the attention of your school and/or local authorities. No 16-year-old girl should be left at home for several days at a time due to a single parent suffering substance abuse issues.

Focus first on stabilizing your situation, and plan to deal with the adoption issue in due course. Once authorities become aware of your situation, your local courts will determine what is in your best interest. This will involve parental fitness, the severity of your mother's substance abuse, and perhaps even her willingness to seek treatment or not.

If your mother does not participate, cooperate and make progress soon, it's possible there may be a termination of her parental rights. This is the last resort and could perhaps provide you with an avenue toward adoption. Your letter didn't mention whether or not your best friend's parents have discussed adoption with you or if this is just your own idea in your mind.

There are many factors occurring simultaneously here, so please take immediate action to be sure your local authorities know what's going on. It's likely you'll be allowed to stay with your friend's family at least for a reasonable period of time while things are getting sorted out.

Thank you for writing regarding your difficult situation. That's a very positive first step. Many things need to be determined from here, and it may even be possible that your mother may allow you to become adopted if she agrees that it would be in your best interest. In this case, things would move much more quickly once you have a suitable adoptive family identified.

MY UNCLE IS ALL ABOUT THE "PONIES"

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 15-year-old guy, and I have an uncle who is quite interesting and, shall I say, eccentric.

He's my father's oldest brother, about 10 years older than my dad. He only comes around a couple times a month, and almost every single time, he has some horse track racing advice for my father regarding which "pony" to bet on! He always tells my dad that it's a sure thing and that my dad should take several hundred dollars and run down to the racetrack with him that day. I've witnessed this several times already, but each time my father just tells this older brother "good luck" but mentions he doesn't have extra money for gambling.

What's the big deal about the "ponies"? I know all about sports betting, as many of my high school friends love betting on college and pro football games. I don't participate because I don't have any extra money to lose, but some guys at our school bet every single weekend!

I can understand somebody wanting to bet on their favorite sports team, but why in the world would anybody bet on some random horse they don't even know? — My Uncle Has "Track Fever," via email

MY UNCLE HAS "TRACK FEVER:" Gamblers are going to gamble on all kinds of crazy things, and believe it or not, horse racing is actually pretty popular in the United States and even around the world.

Some gamblers like sporting events, other people play the lotto religiously, some like betting on horse racing, and in some areas there is even dog racing! Your uncle does indeed appear to have "track fever," but fortunately your father seems to be immune from the affliction. My advice is to be respectful toward your uncle but stay away from his horse racing advice, and don't encourage him by bringing up the subject in any way, shape or form!

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.

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