KATHY MITCHELL AND MARCY SUGAR \ Annie's Mailbox Kids are dealing legal prescription drugs

Dear Annie: Please make parents aware that kids are not only using and dealing in illegal drugs, they also are dealing in legal prescriptions, as well. I don't mean amphetamines or painkillers. I'm talking about antidepressants. Kids will take a few of these pills at a time to get high, and it's happening in every community.
Parents, hide your prescriptions! And if your children have been prescribed any legal drugs, keep them locked away, and dole them out to your child yourself. Don't let your child have direct access to them. Thank you. Grand Ledge, Mich.
Dear Grand Ledge: It's amazing what people are willing to do to get high. And it isn't only prescription drugs. Some kids use cough syrup and other over-the-counter medications, which are cheap and easy to buy, and most of which are lethal in large doses. All prescription medication should be kept in a safe place, where parents can monitor usage. Parents also should keep an eye on other medications that they cannot recall purchasing or that seem to run out quickly.
Most important, however, is communication between parents and children. Kids who are determined to get high will find a way. Parents, it is your job to explain to your children why you don't want them using mind-altering substances that could impair their judgment, put them in harm's way, mess up their education, cause health problems down the road, get them arrested, wreck their lives or worse. Kids think it's cool to take these risks. You have to convince them it isn't.
Dear Annie: I am 12 years old and live in a nice area. There is a neighbor girl, "Carrie," who is a little younger than I am, and she drives me crazy.
My family owns three horses that we keep in our pasture over the summer. As soon as the horses appear, Carrie calls and invites herself over to ride. If I tell her I'm busy with homework, she calls every 15 minutes to ask if I'm finished. This happens every single day.
It is no easy task for me to saddle up the horses, and it's really time-consuming. Also, Carrie isn't a skilled rider, and she needs a lot of help. Sometimes I prefer to ride alone, but I can't avoid Carrie when she just shows up at my house.
How do I get her to back off without hurting her feelings? Please help. Wanting to Gallop Away in Oregon
Dear Oregon: You should not have to deal with this alone. Explain the problem to your parents, and ask them to talk to Carrie's folks about it. Your day needs structure. Let them know how much time you are willing to spend riding with Carrie and when it is OK for her to come over. Also, there are dangers involved for unskilled riders, and Carrie might want to take some lessons. And if she continues to ride at your place, you ought to teach her how to saddle up the horses.
Dear Annie: I read the tirade from "Montana Woman," who disliked men who didn't trim their nose and ear hair. Men get ear hair as they age, much as women get sagging breasts, arm flab, extra chin hair and wrinkles.
A gentleman who appreciates a woman past the age of 30 doesn't focus on these physical defects. He also doesn't complain when she decides not to wear makeup or brush her teeth. Guys are turned off by personal attacks and women who make a big deal out of something that is none of their business. A Hairy Gentleman
Dear Hairy: Oh, come on. If a woman didn't brush her teeth, you can bet guys would complain -- and with good reason. Being clean and well-groomed is simply a matter of self-respect and consideration for others. If you want to be a hermit, go live in a cave. (Apologies to all the hermits in our reading audience.)
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