LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Spiderman has to be Frustrated
S
o, as this article will prove, I am a Marvel movie fan. With two young boys one could argue that I spent as much money on merchandise, rentals and tickets as I have on my taxes. I can safely say that I have watched each movie in its entirety at least twice, and re-enacted action scenes with my kids for more times than I can count. So, after the immense amount of dollars and hours spent on Marvel, I have come to one clear opinion: Spiderman has got to be frustrated. And not just him, I feel for Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and Hawkeye. I have only sympathy for The Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, Antman, and Black Panther (Wakanda Forever*). If I ever see the gang from The Guardians of the Galaxy, dinner’s on me.* Why do you ask?
T.J. “The Incredible Huck” Huckleberry Executive Officer Berks County Medical Society
Because try as they do, their job is never done. They lock up one villain, two more sneak into town. They blow up some monster, and somehow it survives and escapes. They save the city and half of it is leveled in the sequel. It seems that Marvel’s formula is that the villains only get smarter, the monsters only get bigger, and the battles only get uglier, and the city never…ever stays saved. Call me crazy…but are all those superpowers worth it? But then again, where would their multiverse* be without them? What would the good citizens do without their talents, selflessness, and bravery? Who would save the day? After all, these aren’t normal individuals, these are heroes. So, despite how much my sons’ wish it to be true, we do not live in a Marvel movie. But our worlds are eerily similar. We too have our fair share of monsters, villains, and battles, especially in our substance use and recovery community. Opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine… when one evil appears to be beaten a more formidable foe arrives. But we too have heroes. We too have those who use their talents, their selflessness and bravery to hold our monsters at bay. This edition, like a good comic book, is filled with these people, these heroes. And while none of them can wield ancient Norse war hammer*, carry a vibranium shield*, or utilize Stark technology to fly*, what they do for our community truly makes a difference.
10
THE RESPONSE // SUMMER 2022
