Bizzell CEO Appointed to CSAP National Advisory Council

Bizzell CEO Appointed to CSAP National Advisory Council

In recognition of his extensive expertise in substance abuse prevention and treatment, Anton Bizzell, M.D., CEO of The Bizzell Group (Bizzell), has been appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to serve on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) National Advisory Council. Dr. Bizzell’s appointment is effective through November 2018.

CSAP leads the development of national substance abuse prevention policies and programming, promotes the adoption of proven, science-based substance abuse prevention approaches and helps states and communities build their capacity to implement these approaches. As a member of the CSAP National Advisory Council, Dr. Bizzell will support this mission by making recommendations on agency and center activities and policies, in addition to reviewing grant and cooperative agreement submissions. “It’s a great honor and responsibility to work at a national level to help states and communities find proven and practical ways to prevent substance abuse and reduce the impact this disease has on individuals, families and communities,” said Dr. Bizzell.

Since earning his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Virginia, Dr. Bizzell has spent the majority of his career working to improve access and quality of care issues for people experiencing substance abuse, mental illness or complicating health issues. He has more than 20 years of combined clinical, research, health services, policy and management experiences with various private and public organizations, including his service as a Medical Officer at both the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA. Dr. Bizzell has also provided leadership to projects of national significance including CSAP’s Prevention Fellowship Program, SAMHSA’s Federal Drug Free Workplace Technical Support contract, and SAMHSA’s Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse project.

Bizzell Supports HBCU Campus Dialogue on Prescription Drugs

Bizzell Supports HBCU Campus Dialogue on Prescription Drugs

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) supports The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) with its recruitment of students, staff, and faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for an open dialogue on prescription drugs. The event LET’S TALK ABOUT IT: Prescription Drug Use and Its Side Effects is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The groups will discuss current campus trends, explore beliefs about substance abuse and addiction, and discover on- and off-campus prevention, treatment and recovery services.  There will be two sessions – one for faculty and staff on Friday, March 28th and one for students on Saturday, March 29th.

Research suggests that there are varied motivations for prescription drug abuse among teens and college-aged students, including getting high, coping with pain or sleep problems and in some instances improving or enhancing cognition.  These behaviors are risky as medications prescribed by doctors are assumed to be safe, however abuse of these drugs can have harmful health effects, including overdose.  This discussion seeks to open a dialogue among students and health professionals to combat myths and generalizations about prescription drug misuse.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to RSVP by March 21, 2014 for the event on March 28th from 10 am – 3 pm.  Students should RSVP by March 25, 2014 for the event on March 29th from 11 am – 4 pm. Interested participants should RSVP by calling 202.806.7706 or emailing dm_barnes@howard.edu.

Both sessions will take place at The Gallery Lounge in the Blackburn Center at Howard University, 2400 Sixth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059. Participants are advised that this counts as a community service activity and resume-builder.  Limited seating is available. Lunch and parking will be provided.

To learn more about the issue, visit: Taking Action to Prevent & Address Prescription Drug Abuse:  A Resource Kit for America’s College Campuses and www.recoveryopensdoors.org