DR. WALLACE: I'm 18 and have a serious problem and need your advice as soon as possible. I live with my adoptive parents, whom I love very much. I consider them to be my real mother and father. I never use the term "adoptive" when I mention them, but in this case it is important for you to know.

I really care very much for a guy who is 19 and now living in California because he got into a lot of trouble here in our town. My parents refuse to allow me to have any contact with him in any way and they told me this rule will be in effect as long as I'm living at home.

To compound the problem, this guy is my mother's youngest brother. Since my mother and I are not related by blood, there is no reason why he and I cannot be romantically involved. Please tell me what I should do. He wanted me to come to California after I graduated from high school, and I graduated in June of this year.

I'm really confused. Something inside me is telling me to go for it, but when I seriously think about it I have my doubts. I guess you could say my heart says yes, but my brain says no. — Rebecca, Newport, R.I.

REBECCA: In this case, your brain is making a lot more sense than your heart. Running off to California to be with this guy sounds like certain disaster. Even though you're adopted, he's still your uncle. And your mother knows him much better than you do. Sever all contact with him immediately! I am aware that this will be difficult to do, but it must be done!

THANKS FOR CARING ABOUT TEENS

DR. WALLACE: I'm writing this letter to you because it's good therapy for me and I don't want one teen to travel down the same drug path that I followed. I'm an 18-year-old guy who is a recovering drug addict. I was hooked on many drugs for several years, but my main addiction was to cocaine and crack (snorting and injecting). I began smoking marijuana at the age of 12 and before long I was doing a lot of drugs.

By the time I was 16, my habit was costing me up to $100 a day. I earned my money by working honestly, as well as dealing drugs and stealing anything and everything. Before I suffered a breakdown last June, I went through $200 in 24 hours getting the drugs to support my habit.

In July I realized that drugs were going to kill me and I didn't want to die. I asked for help and was placed into treatment. Three times in the hospital I was rushed to the emergency room because of withdrawal complications. The head doctor told me I would die if I didn't stay clean.

I am now out of the hospital and it has been really hard to stay away from drugs. I've only used marijuana twice and LSD once, but I've been clean for the last 58 days now and I'm very proud of myself. I've made a lot of progress and I'm still obsessed with drugs, but with my faith in God, I'll make something of my life.

I'm writing to you, Dr. Wallace, because I want to encourage teens to stay clean if they haven't started using drugs. If they have started using drugs, I encourage them to stop, and if they are addicted, to get help immediately. — Nameless, Berkley, Calif.

NAMELESS: I'm also very proud of you and wish you a full recovery. There's almost nothing harder than recovering from a drug addiction, but with courage and faith, which you have in abundance, it can be done.

I believe in you — and I think you will surely make something out of your life. Please stay in touch and let me hear about your continued progress. And thanks for caring about other teens enough to write. Your words of warning will affect many young lives.

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: Michael Coghlan