National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month

September is Time to Celebrate Individuals in Recovery

In September, the Bizzell Group (Bizzell) encourages everyone to participate in National Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance abuse use disorders and celebrate the individuals in long-term recovery. Now in its 29th year, Recovery Month is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the work of substance use treatment professionals in the field. The observance evolved into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, when it expanded to include celebrating the accomplishment of individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. The observance evolved once again in 2011 to National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) to include all aspects of behavioral health.

The 2018 Recovery Month theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community” and emphasizes that integrated care, a strong community, sense of purpose, and leadership contribute to effective treatments that sustain the recovery of persons with mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA’s key message is that recovery in all its form is possible and encourages citizens to expand and improve the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery for those in need.

Recovery month encourages us to recognize that mental health and Substance Use Disorders are chronic conditions similar to those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. This observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.

According to SAMHSA, in 2016, 20.1 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year, and 44.7 million adults 18 and older have any mental illness in the past year. In the midst of the crisis, millions of Americans’ lives have been transformed through recovery. The observances of this month are a way for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population.

Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate Recovery Month. Participants speak about the progress made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and furthers a greater understanding of the diseases of mental health and substance use disorders.

During this year’s observance, SAMHSA’s website, www.RecoveryMonth.gov and other activities will highlight inspiring stories that help thousands of people from all walks of life find the path to hope, health, and wellness. Advocates, supporters, and people in recovery can also post their stories at http://www.facebook.com/RecoveryMonth/.

People seeking help can reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662 HELP (4357) for 24-hour, free, and confidential information and treatment referral, or go online to find other SAMHSA resources for locating services.

This year’s observances highlight the various entities that support recovery within our society, including urban communities, health care providers, members of the media, and policymakers. Resources designed specifically for each of these groups are in the SAMHSA Recovery toolkit at https://recoverymonth.gov/promote/recovery-month-toolkit.

Bizzell CEO Appointed to COPE’s Governing Body

Bizzell CEO Appointed to COPE’s Governing Body

The Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders’ (COPE) Executive Committee recently announced the appointment of Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., CEO of The Bizzell Group (Bizzell), to COPE’s governing body.  The designation adds to Dr. Bizzell’s rich history in the field of health education as he has served as a Medical Officer with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as in the Office of Translational Research and Education at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), providing support for research and educational projects addressing physician and other allied health professions’ continuing education.

COPE was formed in 2010 to sustain and expand on the accomplishments of a series of White House Conferences on Medical Education in Substance Abuse, sponsored in 2003, 2006, and 2009 by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President.  The organization’s overarching goal is to improve the education of medical students in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use disorders – ranging from problematic or risky use to addiction.  Another goal is to help medical students receive appropriate training to develop the skills they need to prevent, screen for, diagnose and manage substance use disorders in their patients, regardless of the location or specialty in which they ultimately practice.

As a member of COPE’s governing body Dr. Bizzell will have a hand in supporting the organization’s current activities including administration of medical school surveys and sponsorship of regional Medical Education Summits which are designed to identify specific needs and respond to opportunities for enhancing teaching about substance use disorders in the undergraduate years.  COPE also produces an e-newsletter, which is distributed to more than 3,000 readers, and maintains a website that offer news and resources to medical educators.

To learn more about COPE visit: www.cope-assn.org.

Bizzell Names Randolph Edmead Vice President

Bizzell Names Randolph Edmead Vice President

December 12, 2013 – The Bizzell Group (Bizzell), a U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) certified consulting firm and provider of consulting services and technology solutions to government and commercial clients, has named Randolph Edmead to the position of Vice President.

A senior executive with more than 20 years of project management experience, Mr. Edmead will build upon Bizzell’s success in providing management consulting services for Federal and private clients.

Over the past few years, Mr. Edmead has developed an extensive background in managing large teams in behavioral health, substance abuse disorders, prevention, policy and evaluation service areas. Mr. Edmead has a Project Management Institute (PMI) certificate and over 20 years of experience developing, implementing, and managing behavioral healthcare and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs; providing technical assistance and training to health care providers and staff on leading practices, human resources, accreditation survey support, skills development, and cultural competency; and consulting with healthcare organizations/treatment facilities. He is an accomplished and successful manager who has worked extensively with local, state, Federal government agencies, private organizations, and community groups to strategically plan, fund, manage, and implement programs and projects.

Previously, he served as the Senior Project Director for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Enhancing Substance Abuse Treatment Service to Address Hepatitis Infection Amongst Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) contract that provided technical assistance on opioid abuse and its comorbidities such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C to over 1100 Opioid Treatment Programs throughout the nation and territories. He also directed SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s Prevention Fellowship Program, its Technical Support for Federal Drug Free Workplace Program Services, and he served as the Associate Project Director for the SAMHSA Opioid Treatment Technical Assistance Project.

“Mr. Edmead is an accomplished and successful manager who brings a unique breadth of expertise to Bizzell”’ says Anton Bizzell, MD, CEO of The Bizzell Group. “We are excited about the commitment he brings and look forward to the impact that he will have on the Bizzell community”.

Bizzell Supports Responsible Healthcare Provider Prescribing Education

Bizzell Supports Responsible Healthcare Provider Prescribing Education

By: Anton C. Bizzell, M.D.

December 10, 2013 – Opioid analgesics have become controversial drugs that are widely used for the management of moderate to severe pain, but are widely abuse and diverted for non-medical purposes. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.

Addressing the prescription drug abuse epidemic is a top priority for The Bizzell Group (Bizzell). Our staff designs, develops, and delivers specialized training and technical assistance for health care providers—from physicians to psychologists, social workers, substance abuse treatment staff, and peer counselors. We understand which tools and resources are the most effective for reaching and communicating with multiple specialized audiences including adults, teens, teachers, and medical professionals. In addition, we support the development and dissemination of sound educational programs for not only health providers, but also for the American public and other stakeholders.

“We provide comprehensive programs of support for efforts to reduce the burden of prescription drug use, misuse, and abuse on the American people”, says Anton Bizzell, MD, Bizzell’s CEO. “Currently, we are offering technical assistance and training that includes developing education courses for physicians, developing educational materials for dissemination, conducting literature reviews and analyses, developing and compiling best practices materials, and providing logistical support for meetings across the U.S”.