"Yes, it's very sad," said Dorothy. "But the happiness they feel is not true, so when the effects of the chemical wear off they feel even worse than before. Then, in a desperate effort to feel better again, they take even more chemicals. Of course, they are doomed to repeat the cycle over and over. This causes great anguish — not only for themselves — but for their family and friends."
"How frightening!" gasped the Girrephalump.
"Yes, it's an awful, awful thing," said Dorothy. "Now the chemical is the master. It now directs the person"s life. He or she has lost control, and is now a slave to this new master. Not only that, some of these chemicals can affect the brain in such a way as to cause the person to do awful things to other people, or to themselves. At the very least their personality becomes distorted: they can have terrible mood swings, and their natural drive and creative ability severely diminished. Sometimes seizures, or even death can occur."
"Can't anyone stop all this?" said the Girrephalump. "Why do people make these chemicals and sell them?"
"For money," said Dorothy. "They love money so much, they don't care who gets hurt."
"Thank goodness I don't have to live in your mortal lands," said the Girrephalump.
"Well, it's not all bad," said Dorothy. "There are many kind and wonderful people there — like Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. It's just the few that spoil things for the many."
"It still seems to me that the place to start is with the little children," said the Girrephalump. "If mortals were taught kindness and love and gentleness and understanding, and all of these things as children, the world would be a very happy place when they grew up, and they could teach their children the same things. Then, by the time they grew up, all the bad adults would have died off."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple," said Dorothy. "Some parents are full of hate and resentment, or show contempt for other races or creeds by the way they talk. This all influences the children."
"Why can't the schools teach the children differently?"