Yankees' C.C. Sabathia Made the Right Choice Seeking Treatment Now

It is never the wrong moment for an alcoholic to enter rehab – not even if you’re Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia and your team is set to make a push to reach the World Series.

It’s a message substance abuse treatment experts are driving home in wake of the New York Yankees pitcher announcing on Monday that he is entering an alcohol treatment program.

“It must have been extraordinarily difficult for him to choose this moment in particular to get help for himself,” said Bruce Goldman, director of The Zucker Hillside Hospital’s substance abuse services, noting that the veteran southpaw went public with his decision on the eve of the Yankees’ wildcard round matchup with Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium.

“But like any other chronic illness, is there ever a ‘good’ time to get help for a potentially life-threatening illness?” Goldman said. “With addiction, people tend to rationalize and deny their problem. So, when the moment strikes that they know in their hearts that it’s time for them to get help, help needs to be readily available.”

Goldman said that if treatment is delayed, an addict’s moment of acknowledgement may pass.

“The disease may progress and circumstances may worsen,” he said. “Very often, there’s a very small window of opportunity to get the person into a treatment program they desperately need.”

Media reports said Sabathia reached a low point in his bout with alcoholism last weekend during the Yankees’ three-game series in Baltimore. Experts note that life has to turn particularly miserable for an alcoholic to hit rock bottom.

“It’s very common to find people that function at very high levels for very long periods of time, while their alcoholism goes undetected,” Goldman said. “In a way, it prevents them from seeking help more readily and sooner -- and meanwhile, the disease progresses. I suspect that may have happened with C.C.”

Goldman said Sabathia showed a lot of courage with the timing of his announcement.

“As a public figure, he’s done the world a great favor by his model,” he said. “Hopefully, he’ll get well and lead the way openly in recovery for others suffering from the illness, to let them know that hope is available and to seek help when you know you need help.”

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