I do feel haunted by some of the letters and the suffering people have endured. But I keep in mind that the people who write to me know that I am a journalist and an on-line advice columnist, not a social service professional.
Emily YoffeThe sadness from reading letters that you know you can't help because it's a person who's in extremis and their problems are not soluble by an advice column.
Emily YoffeIf you think a caregiver has an active substance abuse problem, that person should never be entrusted with your child.
Emily Yoffe