Red Ribbon Week

Thank you for Shawn Hubler’s Oct. 24 column, “Red Ribbon Reruns.” As a pediatrician, I have worked on Red Ribbon Week for more than 10 years, and while I do believe that the little red ribbon isn’t everything that I want it to be, it is a visible commitment by many sectors of our community to deal with the fact that people do use substances to get high because it makes them feel better.

Why do kids use drugs? To feel good, feel better, feel nothing. I have followed the trail of substance abuse. If we don’t get unconditional love and acceptance of who we are when we are little from our major caregivers, it takes a lot of effort to learn to treat ourselves with gentleness and humor and love and respect as evolving adults.

TRISHA ROTH MD

Beverly Hills