I am reading your article “Blood Buddies” (5/8). I went to Kennedy High School myself, so I’m very interested.

I have a suggestion for a follow-up story. Aaron Needle is the second person that I have heard of from this area who has come out of teenage rehab (Second Genesis, among others) and committed murder. Everyone that I knew in high school that went into any of those places came out worse. It seems to distort their minds.

My idea is for a story on what affects those kind of facilities have on teenagers. Is the “tough love” thing really worth it? It would involve a lot of research into the lives of former patients (if the hospitals will reveal anything). Would family and a loving environment inspire rational and kind behavior more than an institution? I think so.

Silver Spring, Md.

via the Internet