READ THESE PERSONAL TESTIMONIES FROM DR. BUTKINS' CLIENTS
"Dr. Butkins played an integral part in my recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. He provided me with knowledge about the disease of addiction and taught me how to overcome the triggers that would lead me to go out and use or drink. Dr. Butkins is a very knowledgeable, respectable, and professional counselor. He truly cares for his clients and you can tell from the minute you first meet him that he is a man who has genuine concern for the addict and is willing to do what it takes to help you. I am forever grateful to Dr. Butkins for teaching and giving me the tools necessary to maintain my recovery from alcohol and substance abuse." John - Orlando, FL January 2009
“I met Dr. Butkins when I went to a counseling session with my alcoholic husband about 2.5 years ago. He is a highly skilled professional and is very knowledgeable on the disease of alcoholism and its affect upon the families of alcoholics. When we met, I was sick with worry and fear, angry, and unhappy. Living each day in fear of what awful thing would happen next, both my mental and physical health were beginning to suffer. When my husband went off to a rehabilitation center, I continued to see Dr. Butkins. As he challenged my thinking and attitudes and encouraged me to recognize and deal with my feelings, my mind began to open and allow me to look at life situations and the disease of alcoholism in ways that would never have occurred to me on my own. He sent me to Al-Anon where I found other people affected by a loved one’s alcoholism that were working the 12 Steps and willing to help me in my recovery. Today, there is less worry and fear in my life and more serenity. I know that Dr. Butkins’ skill, wisdom, and compassion guided me to this better way of living. I will be forever grateful.”Karen, Lake Mary, Florida
"Dr. Pete probably saved my life 7 months ago when I came to him in October, 2005. He has a great talent in evaluating problems and making you aware of them. He has helped me turn my life around and helped me see things about myself that I have been able to work on; he also helped me help others. It is the best money I have spent in many years. Thank you for being there for me." Richard A. March, 2006 "Dr. Butkins has been treating me since I was in middle school; later on at 19, (he helped me again) I had to see someone I felt comfortable with. He talks to me like a friend, not a doctor. I choose him over any other (counselor) because I look forward to seeing him; he’s just like one of my own friends. He’s very real, but not in your face;he doesn’t sugarcoat, but he’s very understanding and kind. He will help you make progress through anything and leave you feeling better than when you came in." Jerry K. April 2006 "Dr. Butkins is the best thing that ever happened to me. I would have been dead a long time ago if it were not for him. I drank way too much and wanted to die. He has brought me through a lot; because of him I can handle anything and I love myself today." Janie D. April, 2006
"Dr. Peter Butkins has provided much needed support and direction during emotional turmoil in my life." Ken H. - Longwood, FL April, 2006
"Dr. Butkins is an amazing guy. He has helped me so very much. When I first came to him I was ready to give up on life. With his help and guidance I pulled myself up. I’m now accepting a full paid scholarship to Stetson. Dr. Butkins saved my life. Thanks for everything." Ann A. - Orlando, FL April, 2006
We make light of pot abuse. In films and on TV it is sometimes portrayed as "cute" and funny as the pot abuser is seen as 'laid back' or a rebel. At times it is even glorified as 'the' thing to do.
The reality of the matter is that it causes brain damage. The brain's ability to process thoughts clearly and at a normal pace are impaired. Cannibis stores in the fatty tissues of the body and is slow to leave the body. Apathy and lethargy are present in withdrawal and anxiety, confusion, depression and irrational behavior are common. There is a slowing of the thinking process. Another problem with abstinence is that the cravings come back after a couple of weeks. The person becomes anxious and irritable and this makes using again more palatable (The Recovery Book, 1992). The person again become in 'bondage' to the drug.
This is not cute or funny. This harmful drug affects one of our most precious gifts - the brain. I used this drug daily from 1969 until 1986. I know the insane thinking - the rationalizing about nature's gift, the religious aspects of the drug... All of this malarkey enabled me to continue to damage my lungs, gastrointestinal system, induce annual bronchitis and pleurisy, a weakened immune system and amotivation. Do I want my child to smoke pot. Hell no! Do you???
Pot smokers have an agreement to continue their use/abuse by rationalizing their continued abuse based on so-called spiritual principles?! This use of "spiritual thinking" justifies lung damage, neglected childre, lying, character damage and many other problems associated with drug use/abuse. This thinking keeps the truth hidden and prevents the user/abuser from connecting the problems of abuse with the abuse.
The pot addict will rationalize that God put hemp on the earth, it grows freely as do God's other plants; many ancient cultures used it in their ceremonies; it is natural - grown in nature... These loosley though out excuses for continuing damage to self and others pale in light of the true harm done to one's lungs, gastrointestinal system, immune system and family. Think about it! Someone has to.
THC, the active ingredient in cannibis, stays in the brain and interferes with the neurotransmission of one cell to another. In other words, it causes a form of brain damage. Communication becomes difficult as the user has difficulty remembering thoughts and formulating thoughts. In some movies, this is touted as being cute. It isn't. Brain damage and family damage is not cute. Marijuana users have kids that don't get to go trick or treating and are at time in danger of second hand pot smoke, neglect and emotional and mental abuse. This damage, combined with amotivation by the user leads to family shame and apathy, low self-esteem and lost children.
See my videos on You Tube under the doc pete. There is a video for every step of my seven-step model on parenting children who use drugs and/or alcohol.
Take charge of your home. Get your child to treatment the right way. Dr. Butkins explains how to progress through the steps of helping your child to get sober and clean. Go to You Tube and search for the doc pete. There are seven videos on each step and others on treatment for drug and alcohol abuse/addiction.
Parents need to see that they are not at fault. This problem is mostly genetic and not caused by the environment. Drop the guilt. Note that only certain siblings cross the line to addiction, even though they were brought up in the same household with the same parents. This is proof that parenting does not create addiction.
However, if there is abuse in the household, the child may find tremendous relief from intoxification. These same children, if not geneticaly pre-disposed to addiction, will quit when the intoxication results in pain or loss. It is not providing relief and, because they are not pre-disposed, they will not 'crave' the drug. The drug no longer provides relief but results in problems.
The most frequent time to get "stuck" when parenting is when we set firm boundaries and then have trouble enforcing them. Remember to only set limits that you believe are fair and then follow through with the mutually agreed upon consequence(s).
Columbia Universitys' National Center for addiction and substance abuse announced their latest finding regarding teens viewing internet social networks. They report that teens are seeing more sights that show their peers drinking and drugging and that, due to 'suggestibility', they are doing the same.
If this role modeling is that influential, why don't we model sober behavior at the same level?
Love and Peace,
Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist
If you are interested in additional counseling or coaching via email or telephone or in person log onto
One of the problems in enteriiing young adults into treatment is that they have usually not 'used' long enoughto and may not have had enough time to progress to a clear and observable "bottom'. Inother words, the problem is not advanced enough to see clearly. Many people have an adaptation period of about ten years whereas the problems/consequences are minimal or easy to disguise. This variable being present and coupled with denial and thus avoidance of "symptom-seeking", it is very difficult to tell whether the peron is abusing or truly addicted. Nevertheless, seek treatment and find out. One of the best strategys is to ally with the teen and mutually seek the truth over time by studying the problem ongoing.
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