TOO LATE

(snip)

DEAR ANN: I am writing you from a prison cell, hoping it might help some
teenager somewhere. Here I sit with plenty of time to think about what I
did to my life.

I would like to make a plea to all parents who read this: Talk to your kids
about drugs now. Hug them, and let them know you love them and are there to
help them through the tough decisions every kid has to make. They will hear
you. What you say will stick in their minds the first time a joint is
handed to them. Teenagers may not seem to hear, but they do, and they
respect what their parents have to say.

I won't blame anyone for my choices in life, but I can't help thinking,
``What if?'' I never got that all-important talk with my parents. Just one
conversation could make all the difference in the world. Parents, please
think about it.

Too Late for Me in Missouri

DEAR TOO LATE: I appreciate your writing to alert my readers to the
importance of talking to their kids about drugs. Too many parents think it
won't matter, or that their children aren't listening, but they really are.
Thank you for making it clear that parental involvement is crucial.

(snip)