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
11 Dec 2008 In an examination of unintentional overdose deaths in the state of West Virginia, a majority of these have been found to be associated with the nonmedical use and diversion of prescription drugs, especially pain relievers, according to an article released on December 9, 2008 in JAMA.
In the management of chronic pain, guidelines were introduced in 1997 encouraging the expanded use of opioid pain relievers, pending stringent patient evaluation and full counseling, if other treatments are inadequate. Since then, the retail purchases of just such analgesics, including methadone, hydrocodone, and oxycodone, increased enormously, according to the article. This was accompanied by a parallel increase in emergency department visits and deaths attributed to opioid pain reliever overdoses. According to the article, West Virginia has suffered one of the highest increases in these types of deaths in the United States, having a 550% increase in death from unintentional poisoning between 1999 and 2004.
To investigate the association between these deaths and use of prescription opioids, Aron J. Hall, D.V.M., M.S.P.H., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues, examined risk characteristics associated with patients dying of unintentional pharmaceutical overdose in West Virginia in 2006. Data was collected from medical examiners, prescription drug monitoring program, and opiate treatment program records. All state residents who died of unintentional pharmaceuticaloverdoses in West Virginia that year.
Of the 295 who died, 67.1% (198) were men, and 91.9% (271) were between the ages of 18 and 54. Of the deceased, 63.1% had used pharmaceuticals which contributed to death without documented prescriptions, and 21.4% had received prescriptions from five or more clinicians in the previous year. Women were more likely to have "shopped" for multiple clinicians than men, with 30.9% of them performing this act while only 16.7% of men did. Meanwhile, use of the drugs without documented prescriptions was more common for those two died between 18 and 24 years of age. Of the total population, 94.6% had at least one indicator of substance abuse.
Deaths related to illegal prescription use were often associated with a history of substance abuse, nonmedical pharmaceutical administration, and illicit drugs. Deaths with prescriptions from multiple doctors were more likely to have had previous overdoses, and less likely to have alcohol contributing to death.
Of the total, 79.3% (234) of deaths were linked to multiple contributory substances. The most prevalent class of drugs was the opioid analgesics, contributing to 93.2% of deaths, and of these, 44.4% showed evidence of prescription documentation. Methadone was the most commonly identified drug, and it was involved in 40% of all of the deaths. Fewer of the deceased had prescriptions for methadone than for other drugs such as hydrocodone or oxycodone.
The authors note the important role of doctors themselves in the use of prescription opioids. "Clinicians have a critical role to play in preventing the diversion of prescription drugs. Clinicians and pharmacists need to counsel patients who are prescribed opioids not only about the risk of overdose to themselves but also about the risk to others with whom they might share their medication. In addition, clinicians should follow recent published guidelines for the management of chronic pain and refer patients as needed to pain management specialists. Clinicians should also make use of state prescription drug monitoring programs to determine whether their patients are getting scheduled drugs from other clinicians. Clinicians can now obtain such information about their patients from prescription drug monitoring programs in most states," they write.
A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., of the Treatment Research Institute, and Barbara Turner, M.D., Ms.Ed., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, contributed an accompanying editorial in which they state several steps physicians should take to help reduce the likelihood of inappropriate prescription opioid use.
"When deciding whether to prescribe an opioid, physicians should ask patients about their prior and current histories of alcohol and other drug use. Patients with histories of substance use, mental health problems, or both should receive special attention and co-management from pain management specialists when possible. Treatment of mental health disorders should be considered part of successful pain management."
"Physicians also should consider an opioid treatment agreement (contract) with the patient stipulating the frequency of obtaining medications, timely refills but no early replacements for lost prescriptions, safe storage, no sharing, single-source prescribing, monitoring through urine screens, and adherence to monitoring visits. The agreement should be presented as a way of simultaneously protecting the patient from adverse events and promoting a collaborative, responsible relationship," they write.
Patterns of Abuse Among Unintentional Pharmaceutical Overdose Fatalities Aron J. Hall, DVM, MSPH; Joseph E. Logan, PhD; Robin L. Toblin, PhD, MPH; James A. Kaplan, MD; James C. Kraner, PhD; Danae Bixler, MD, MPH; Alex E. Crosby, MD, MPH; Leonard J. Paulozzi, MD, MPH JAMA. 2008;300(22):2613-2620. Click Here For Abstract
Prescription Opioids, Overdose Deaths, and Physician Responsibility A. Thomas McLellan, PhD; Barbara Turner, MD, MsEd JAMA. 2008;300(22):2672-2673. Click Here For Abstract
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 just added a forum and newsfeed on Medical News related to addiction and alcoholism. Volunteers would be very much appreciated to add content and to help us create the most complete web site related to addiction and alcoholism. Email Dr. Pete or the webmaster if you can help us out with this huge undertaking....
I understand you are in a predicament that you did not expect. This was not your plan. Well, I know how helpless and confused, hurt and frustrated, even guilty you feel. I have been where you’re at in more ways than one, have done hundreds of counseling sessions with addicts and alcoholics, have seen thousands recover and I know what works. I know the solution. I know that you love your spouse and want to get from under the horror of addiction. Your marriage is important, and he’s great when he’s clean and sober, but you have to take care of you and your family. You can escape from the pain of addiction, of feeling unloved like "second hand Rose" even when all is out of control and it seems hopeless. My audio MP3's teach you what, when and how to communicate – what to say that will help - and they will guide you toward the SOLUTION.
WHAT DOES NOT WORK: Addiction creates seven (7) ways of coping that do not work. They function as defenses and not ways to cope. These are all included in my counseling topic on "Mis-Coping". (See our Online Store to order the Series on Addiction and Alcoholism) Five of the ways of mis-coping are:
* Being addicted to out of control behavior. This does not work * Coaxing, persuading him to stop or cut back. This does not work. * Operating from fear. This does not work. This does not work. * Fighting. He will see this as a way to control him. This does not work. * Justifying the problem. This does not work.
WHAT DOES WORK: I HAVE WRITTEN 11 WAYS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN SAVING YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND YOUR FAMILY FROM THE RUINATION OF ADDICTION. Some of these are: #1 Recreate the friendship. This works. I’ll show you how. #2 Wake up every day (make this a ritual) and forgive everyone for their mistakes. This works. I’ll show you how. #3 Take full responsibility for your predicament. Don’t blame yourself. However, if you have the guts to take responsibility for getting here, you can get out. Only then can you get out. Do it right now! This works. I’ll show you how. #4 Set limits. This works. I’ll show you how. #5 Insist on enjoying life. This works. I’ll show you how...
The above techniques work. You will receive all of these 11 ways to save your family from the ruination of addiction in my counseling plan you can purchase below. You must practice being quiet more often but, when you do speak, make it powerful, without the flooding emotion. Can you practice being a good friend? What will you do? How do good friends behave? They practice non-judgmental caring and respect. Be a friend to yourself first ! LESSONS YOU NEED TO LEARN: Lesson #1: You have a right to take care of yourself and your family. Lesson #2: You can get to the point where this is second nature. Lesson #3: You have to follow a course of action that leads to success.
The good news is that these lessons don’t cost much. The addiction does. I can help you as soon as you allow me to. All great people had coaches, mentors or teachers. Why not you? My goal is to spend much time on the solution. I am going to teach you, over a period of time, to talk, act and feel in a way that will make you successful. You will have to commit to study and change. And, of course, you know that I can’t possibly teach you everything you need to know on this web site alone. That’s why you need to buy the Counseling Plan in our Online Store. Do you realize that you’re spending incredible amounts of money on the problem right now? The cost of this plan is invaluable, perhaps the price of a life. The cost of addiction: $10,000 to millions; The cost of the solution: $99. However, it is the way to be free of the pain of addiction. An addiction is a problem that affects EVERY area of your life...the addict (and the family) is eventually ruined financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
FIRST, You must learn to vent. SECONDLY, You must learn to let go of the pain and move on. THIRDLY, You have to learn how not to recreate the pain.
Finish my discussion on this web site (it isn’t that long) or simply read the bullet points and you will become motivated and encouraged as I explain and teach you my course of action that works.
Begin with these three key points: 1. You need to learn about addiction. Accurate information can be healing. 2. You need to change your thinking. I can help you with that. Your feelings and actions will subsequently change without much work. 3. You need to develop a support system of people who have successfully mastered this problem. I'll tell you where to find these willing people.
Too good to be true? Not really. This plan has worked for thousands. It will work for you if you commit to it and do not quit.
THE COST OF ADDICTION: — Drug Money and/or Weekly Alcohol Bills — Missed Job Promotions — Misspent Money and Time — Poor Financial and Work Decisions — Time Missed at Work — Loss of Jobs — Paying for Car Repairs — Domestic Violence — Legal Fees — Brain and/or Liver Damage — Diabetes — Divorce — Hospital Bills — Damaged and/or Lost Relationships — Potential Loss of Human Life: Addictions Can Kill !!
The cost of addiction is high and almost impossible to count.
Cost of my Solution is only $99 - available in our online store.
MY PROGRAM TO HELP YOU BEGIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
Many people, once in your circumstances, have restored their lives, stayed with the recovering addict and learned to live happily. Others have left. I have seen both situations and know that a spouse has a tremendous amount of power that is not felt nor used properly. Let me show you how to use the power you already have. Can you care enough to trust and try something that works even if it means change? That is what it will take.
I’ve talked with many families and asked them what it was that made them successful in restoring the addict and the family as well. Two of those interviews are available in the plan you can purchase below. In general, they said that teachability and letting go of negativity, while having a support system, made a great difference. All of them also said that when they practiced self disclosure (the cornerstone of my Ph.D. dissertation on addiction), they saw a more relaxed home and better communication and openness from everyone. You are capable of taking charge in solving this problem. Some people in your life are probably not. Will you take up the cause? Start being part of the solution instead of the pain. I remember that old muffler commercial that asked, ‘Pay me now or pay me later’. In regards to a progressive (never gets better, always gets worse) addiction the saying could be:‘Address addiction now or it may be too late to do anything later.’ There is a drunk or a high that your loved one may not return from.
What are you paying now for the addiction? What will counseling cost? One DUI can cost you over $10,000 The cost of a human life renewed is priceless!
A friend knowledgeable about the disease of addiction once told me that, if one person in an addicted family goes to treatment and gets “well,’ the others in the family will be positively affected. I have witnessed this for several years and believe it to be true. I have studied dysfunctional families with and without substance abuse for four decades. I know what not to do. There is a great need for information on what to do. Based on family therapy as well as addiction theory, I have designed a website (AllAboutAddiction.net) to address the family that is “in recovery.” The assumption will be made that we are not arguing about the disease concept and whether to abstain from all mood-altering drugs including alcohol. This is a “given” in my opinion. Also, it is well known and believed that most substance abusers/alcoholics/addicts do well in AA if he or she surrenders the pride and “ego” and can be in a “learning” frame of mind and not be guarded or protected most of the time. The co-alcoholics or those living with the alcoholic also need treatment. This is reality. One cannot live with this disease for an hour or two without being affected. To live for months or years with it promotes much stress and disease. The lies, deceptions, betrayal and “dark” influences of the disease on the afflicted person affect everyone in his or her path, fooling and confusing them to the point that they rescue or condemn, sometimes at the same time. The damage it does to the marriage and family is immense. One can see the violence or detachment from people and feelings in the family.
In addition, there is untold damage done to self-esteem and hopes for a good life, sometimes leaving the damaged person to live life in a quiet but discouraged and depressed manner. Dreams are cast aside for jobs that are a means to survival lacking any chance of prosperity or even times of happiness. Topics to be covered briefly in this book include tasks of the substance abuser/alcoholic/addict in recovery and tasks of the spouse or significant other, amends, family trust, family roles and tasks. Parenthood, equal treatment for the children, esteem building, feelings, empowerment, development stages for the kids and recovering adults, spirituality, and education of the disease have also been addressed. Divorcing or divorced, separated and blended (parents have been married before and may have children from other marriages/relationships) families have problems in addition to substance abuse recovery.
Watch AllAboutAddiction.net for updates on these important families. In addition, go to the forum at AllAboutAddiction.net or blog to ask questions and get responses from myself or family members whom have “been there.”
The recovering person will do the following things: Be alcohol and substance free. Put recovery number one in life. Be teachable when not putting recovery first (in relapse mode). Attend AA, get a sponsor and work the Steps. Pray and meditate daily. Apologize when wrong and not do this again so much. Get one year’s substance-free and continue the previous year’s goals. Because of the above he or she will be able to: Parent with a partner and have the best interests of the family in mind. Look at the marriage as a partnership and the family as a team. Be a co-leader with the spouse negotiating differences in parenting. Realize that both leaders grew up in different families with differing rules. Be an earner. Learn to and express feelings appropriately. Let the other members do the same. Have rules that are enforced and designed with the spouse. Provide home safety with the spouse. Love others.
Duties of the Recovering Spouse: Be in recovery and prioritize it as number one in the family. Go to Alanon, get a sponsor and work the Steps. Read recovery literature. Learn to be teachable. Parent with equality. Let go of control and be assertive. Negotiate the family rules for the children. Parent as a team with rules and enforcement.
Many people have written about the disease concept of alcoholism. I believe that this applies to any drug. I have learned that about one in ten Americans has the disease of alcoholism and probably addiction in general. When this person drinks alcohol or uses drugs, there is a feeling which is euphoric. This may come at first use or later. When the person uses, the problem can become overwhelming. In early stages, the problem can be arrested somewhat easily. After an adaptation period of several weeks to several years (depending on the individual person) quitting becomes almost impossible. The problem follows a path, has symptoms, and, like most diseases, has a cause which is difficult to find. It is treatable but is very elusive. As the person indulges more and more, the cravings begin to develop and a tolerance builds. Normal drinkers or persons would quit when there is a problem because they have been doing it as a “phase” such as college ”party time days.” The addict cannot easily quit. Many researchers say addicts cannot quit. The point is that they are not drinking or abusing drugs to harm anyone. It comes with the territory. It comes with the addiction. It is not personal, even when the addict takes out his or her pain on another person. Without the substance, most addicts are decent human beings. There is a small percentage who are sociopathic or mentally ill. However, I believe this is a very small percentage. What you need to know is that the disease has a life of its own. The user has to develop a way to think, to rationalize, to deny, to intellectualize to blame others in order to keep using. He or she has to protect the mind from the truth that the problem is harming others and killing self. When you cannot stop and have to have the change in feeling so badly that you will lie and cheat and steal and blame and criticize and let the rage and fears devour you, the problem is massive. No one person causes it. I believe it is mostly a matter of genetics. The disease progressively gets worse. It never gets better. It is not acute. That is, it does not get cured like a broken arm. It is lasting, never going away. It can be arrested with a spiritual conversion, usually found through AA or NA.It also kills the user and greatly harms the people surrounding the user. You can detach by going to AA. There are probably groups in your city or town. The motional damage done to the people surrounding the addict is immense. The amage occurs emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally, to name a few. The addict has to take the pressure off from the disease or denial can be broken. The substance is so seductive and “needed” that anything or anybody who threatens he denial will be attacked. If you feel attacked, this is why. Don’t buy into the lame, judgments, yelling, criticizing. It’s not your fault!
Excerpts from Dr. Butkins E-Book " How to Get Sober and Clean" Available here in our Store.
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism- The Warning Signs Alcohol - Beer, Wine, Liquor.
Slurred Speech. Alcohol Odor. Making Excuses for Irresponsible Behavior. "Dry Drunk" Syndrome When Not Drinking (characterized by a short temper, perhaps sarcasm, irritability and restlessness.)
The first step is to determine whether your spouse or child or you have an addictive or abusive problem with alcohol. Is the problem dependence or relief use, due to a crisis? The way to determine this is to quit. Should there be hesitation to quit, the answer may lie therein. Other behaviors lead the observer to believe that the problem is dependence. Continued use of a substance when there is problematic use signals dependence.Denial signals dependence. Obvious continued use with excuses and justifications can be dependence rather than abuse or social use. An objective person who is not attached to the problem or defending the continued use of chemicals when there are problems of any sort or any degree would agree that continued use is harmful and self destructive, therefore, compulsive. Another characteristic of dependence is an inability to quit - loss of control. There is also a need to control but with failed efforts. Attempts to stop after a couple of drinks on any occasion can mean dependence. A relationship with alcohol can be a sign of addiction or dependence. For example, should you have a breakout of flu or a rash after eating celery you could probably quit using celery. This is not always the case with addiction. The abusive drinker or user will stop when there is a problem. When there is no relief but there is pain, the abusive or relief drinker can and usually will stop. An alcoholic or addict will not. These are a few ways to determine whether you have a serious or very serious problem.
How Can You Tell If Your Teen is Using Drugs?
WARNING SIGNS Suddenly avoids contact with the family. Experiences rapid mood swings. Steals money from family, friends or others. Becomes defiant. New friends are older or less suitable to the family. New friends are known to use drugs. School conduct becomes a problem. Drop in grades is unexplained. Develops an apathetic attitude toward being successful. Tends to isolate. Withdrawl from former hobbies or sports.
Some of the things you will see: more illness, running nose, cough, dilated pupils, red eyes, slurred speech, lethargy, apathy (little interest in success in appearance, school or activities which were formerly of interest to your child), smell of marijuana in room or on the child, trancelike state, disorientation, hyperactivity followed by drowsiness, nausea, loss of coordination, loss of appetite, headaches/hangover, red nostrils,slowed speech, absentmindedness, runny nose, weight gain, fatigue, staggering walk.
Some of the things you will find: Paraphenalia such as pipes, rolling papers, roachclips, empty cigars, cans with a hole in the side, needles, cellophane bags with foreign powder or brown/green stems, seeds, smelly, sticky grass or fine granular smelly substance, glues bottles or aerosol cans, razor blades, ashes on the floor, pills or capsules, pill bottles, long fingernails (especially only the pinky), any foreign papers or objects, powder on nose, and any unusual clothing patterns which display drugs or known drug users. Lastly, look for friendships with new persons whom you suspect for any reason.
These are the symptoms which are the most prevalent, observable and frequent. These, especially when observed in groups of three or four, can be strong signs of drug abuse. Do not let these signs go unattended. Get help as soon as you can in order to begin the process of reconstruction. There is hope. Ask questions of knowledgeable persons at the police station or treatment centers if you are unfamiliar with any of the above. Do not panic! Seek help.
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