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18Sep2018

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.

16Aug2018

Bizzell Named Fastest Growing Companies in America, Again

Lanham, MD – August 16, 2018 –Inc. Magazine announced The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) has been ranked as the 494^th fastest growing company in America on Inc.’s 5000 list. Last year, Bizzell made their first appearance on the prestigious publication ranking 137th. In addition, they were recognized as the 3^rd fastest growing black-owned small business in the nation and the 2^nd fastest growing small business in Maryland in 2017. It is uncommon for a company to rank twice on the 500 list in two consecutive years.

Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, President, and CEO of Bizzell said, “I attribute Bizzell’s success to the diverse and innovative people which compose our staff. We are dedicated to providing creative solutions to build healthy, secure and sustainable communities domestically and globally.”

Bizzell’s practice areas include health services and research; communication and outreach; technical assistance and training; program management and administrative support, conference management and logistical support, and technology. They have over 15 subject matter experts with decades of experience addressing substance use disorders and related issues by creating effective protocol and programs. Bizzell has offered their expertise to the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Defense, Energy, Transportation, and the United States Agency for International Development, and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency of the District of Columbia. Bizzell’s motto “Our clients drive real world change. We accelerate it”. Inc.’s 500 was announced August 15 and companies listed will be featured in the September issue.

Bizzell is a U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) certified and an ISO 9001:2015 certified firm based in Lanham, MD. Founded in 2010, Bizzell offers expertise in a myriad of health-related and conference services.

25Jul2018

Dr. Bizzell Speaks at African American Male Summit in New Bern, NC

The fourth annual African American Male Summit took place on July 28, 2018. The purpose of the event is to draw attention to the plight and concerns of African American men, and how others see them; to showcase the skills and the successes of black men who have been marginalized and made to feel less than what they are; and to let them know despite all the cultural issues that black men are facing, they can still be successful. The panel discussions were comprised of New Bern natives who came “home” to share insights and wisdom in promoting the growth, potentiality, and abilities of African American men. As a featured speaker, Dr. Bizzell shared, “I believe in giving back just so that someone else can see that they too can make it. If I made it, so can another person.”

27Jun2018

PTSD Awareness Day

The National Center for PTSD promotes awareness of PTSD and effective treatments throughout the year. Starting in 2010, Congress named June 27^th PTSD Awareness Day.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. PTSD can happen to anyone at any age and includes war veterans, children, and people who have been through physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident, disaster, or other serious events. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and genes may make some people more likely to develop PTSD than others. PTSD happens after traumatic events that cause people to have painful memories. For many people, the effects of the traumatic fade over time, but others are unable to make the thoughts and feelings go away even months or years after the event has occurred.

PTSD symptoms usually start immediately after the traumatic event:

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has a list of symptoms for PTSD:

Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms). You may have bad memories or nightmares. You even may feel like you’re going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
Avoiding situations that remind you of the event. You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
Having more negative beliefs and feelings. The way you think about yourself and others may change because of the trauma. You may feel guilt or shame. Or, you may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy. You may feel that the world is dangerous and you can’t trust anyone. You might be numb, or find it hard to feel happy.
Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You may be jittery or always alert and on the lookout for danger. Or, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. You might suddenly get angry or irritable, startle easily, or act in unhealthy ways (like smoking, using drugs and alcohol, or driving recklessly.

Below is a list of PTSD screens, that is, brief questionnaires that may identify people who are more likely to have PTSD.

For each measure, a brief description, sample items, versions, and references are provided. Information on how to obtain the measure is also provided.

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National Recovery Month

September is Time to Celebrate Individuals in Recovery

Bizzell Named Fastest Growing Companies in America, Again

Dr. Bizzell Speaks at African American Male Summit in New Bern, NC

PTSD Awareness Day

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