Another side

Regarding letters from Peter Shulman (a pediatrician) and Noel Johnson about Tyler Skaggs from last Saturday: I knew Tyler. I was one of his coaches at Santa Monica High and I know his family. Tyler was a bright, talented young man who loved to make others feel good. He was dedicated and hard-working. Dr. Shulman, you’re a physician. You should know more than anyone that opioid addiction is a physical illness often caused by over-prescribing of painkillers by ... physicians.

As far as no one deriving inspiration from the “short, tortured life of Tyler Skaggs,” I will always derive inspiration from it. Addiction can be treated, but hate and vitriol, unfortunately, cannot be.

Steve Freeman

Los Angeles