Every so often in the field of chemical dependency, someone steps up, among the half-truths, irrational philosophies and previous truth to those that are compassionate, yet firm in their counseling.

My wife, Karen and I attended a luncheon at the Methodist Church in Sinclairville on Friday, Oct. 7, at noon. The main speaker was Tracy Strawberry (yes, the wife of the Hall of Famer for the Mets and the Yankees). It was refreshing to listen to someone open and honest about her life, her sobriety and her spirituality. In her book, “The Courage to Heal,” she talks about moving beyond one’s habits, past, and pain. Her sobriety is 22 years, and her husband Darryl’s is 23 years. He is an ordained minister, very compassionate about ministering to alcoholics and drug addicts.

My wife and I were there because of “Barb,” a longtime friend and a member of REBT when we had the group. What impressed Karen and myself was her delivery and the information that made sense from years ago. She spoke of people in recovery having “hope.” However, without “help” to give people the skills to manage their addiction in a rational manner, progress won’t happen. When I had the chance to speak with her, treatment then and now was discussed. Both of us came through the AA program packed with spirituality, not religion. We agreed that no one chased us, rather, we chased the programs to get better. The attitudes and behaviors of clients today leave a lot to be desired. Today’s counselors “protect” their clients, for what reason, I’ll never understand.

Let me give you an example. From May to August, I went through 39 radiations and seven chemotherapies for the cancer the doctors found in my tongue and throat. I had great doctors at Cancer Care of WNY and Windsong in Buffalo.

After being diagnosed, they told me what was going to happen. I did not tell them how I wanted to be treated. “Mr. Tramuta, you go through five radiations weekly at 8:40 a.m. Also once a week, on Thursday, you will have radiation at 10 a.m. and then chemotherapy in another hospital for 2 and a half hours.

If you follow this program, you will beat this thing. Last Wednesday, I was told I am cancer-free and was given an appointment next October, 2023. My point is this: somehow in the field of chemical dependency treatment we have given in to the clients due to “client-driven treatment.” If a client doesn’t want to take the suggestions of going to group, working a program, volunteering, then they don’t have to. This is an indictment of the whole treatment industry. God forbid, that a counselor would ask or suggest about spirituality. Most treatments are secular, based on little accountability. As Tracy and I spoke, we both agreed that this field now has developed the idea that “coddling” clients is the way to go. I don’t know how many counselors have called me and stated, “He doesn’t want to do anything. He misses appointments, doesn’t call and I’m told to let it go.”

I feel this is because the stance that the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse has taken. The propaganda that they are now using is TV ads to tell people that are addicted that they are the No. 1 preventative agency based on harm reduction. If you want to know more about harm reduction, there is a phone number that you can call at the end of this article.

I have watched, with great respect, how my wife has handled her cancer treatments this year – disciplined, smiling, being on time and being willing to go through the program that Dr. Sood gives her. She is getting better and to be cancer-free once again is the goal.

There is little that a counselor can do today, when the “higher-ups” say, “this is the type of treatment you will do.”

This is the advice that I have given to many counselors who have called about “what should I do, I don’t agree with harm reduction.”

I have stated, “If you need the job, do what they want. When it gets to you and you’re watching people die, find another profession.”

Keeping people alive who are drug-addicted is different from the treatment that I got from Dr. Shah and Dr. Berenzzi. Thank God for people like Tracy Strawberry, who is willing to put herself “out there.”

Stated in 1935 in the Big Book of AA, the number one quality in getting sober is “honesty,” to thine own self be true. This is probably why the self-help programs have gotten three times the people sober than the current treatment in our country today.

Mike Tramuta is a longtime counselor for Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory. He can be reached at 716-983-1592.