Blog – Page 33 – Bizzell US

13Feb2020

Alcohol Use Disorder: Hope for Recovery

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often referred to as the hidden substance use disorder (SUD). With alcohol use legal and socially acceptable in many settings, the symptoms of AUD may initially go unnoticed. Yet individuals with AUD may experience significant difficulties in their relationships, work, and health.

In a newly released analysis, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that over 70 percent of the adult population drank alcohol in 2017. Alcohol-related deaths more than doubled from 1999 to 2017. Overdoses of alcohol alone or in combination with other drugs accounted for 18 percent of the deaths in 2017; 31 percent of the deaths resulted from alcohol-related liver disease. Researchers note that the since this study examined only death certificate data, the actual number of lives lost may be significantly higher.

The death rates increased higher for women than for men, and gender differences persist in risks for alcohol-related cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and cancer. In addition, while prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking remained stable for men, the prevalence of alcohol use increased by over 10 percent for women and binge drinking increased by over 23 percent among women.

The NIAAA screening tool for AUD includes questions a provider can use to diagnose whether an individual may have an AUD. Individuals who are struggling with their drinking, or families and friends concerned about their loved ones, can start by considering the following questions.

In the past year, have you:

Tried to cut down or stop drinking more than once, but couldn’t?
Found that drinking or being sick from drinking got in the way of you taking care of your home or your family, or caused problems at work or school?
More than once gotten into situations while drinking that could be dangerous, such as driving, having unsafe sex, using machinery, walking in an unsafe neighborhood; or had a memory blackout?
Kept drinking even though it was making you depressed or anxious, or adding to other health problems?
Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea, or sweating?

In addition to peer-led support models such as Alcoholics Anonymous, there are many options for professionally-led treatment. Treatment for AUD often involves a combination of talk therapy and medication. Therapy can be for individuals, groups, or families, under the direction of a licensed counselor trained in substance use disorders. Medication to help individuals stop drinking and avoid relapse can be administered under the care of a licensed primary care provider or a board-certified addiction medicine physician. In addition, different levels of care and care settings are available to meet the needs of each situation, including outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, or intensive inpatient.

Although the consequences of AUD can be devastating, hope for recovery is possible with evidence-based, timely intervention.

About Bizzell

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) was founded by CEO Anton Bizzell, M.D., a substance use disorders expert and former Medical Officer at NIAAA. Our recent work includes systematic, integrated approaches designed to effect lasting change in the field of substance use disorders through projects with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF). Learn more about how Bizzell advances data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to solve complex, real-world challenges. www.BizzellUS.com

Reference:

White, A. M., Castle, I. J. P., Hingson, R. W., & Powell, P. A. (2020). Using Death Certificates to Explore Changes in Alcohol‐Related Mortality in the United States, 1999 to 2017. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

27Nov2019

Bizzell Wins Federal Occupational Health Business Technology Support Contract

November 27, 2019, (Lanham, MD)— The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) was selected to provide high-speed digital internet access for over 250 geographically-dispersed sites, including Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii, under a business technology contract supporting the Federal Occupational Health Service’s (FOH) Administration & Resource Management (ARM) Division. FOH is the largest provider of occupational health services in the Federal Government, serving more than 360 Federal agencies and reaching 1.8 million federal employees.

Bizzell is charged with improving the quality and strength of internet services for the agency. Bizzell will support the transition of current connectivity services, providing new connectivity services and removal of terminated connectivity. Bizzell will advise the FOH Help Desk on technical and troubleshooting solutions such as the replacement of faulty hardware, access to knowledge base articles, and help with network equipment and software. Bizzell will provide recommendations on technological products, services, and innovations to advance the mission and goals of the FOH.

“We are proud to be selected for a chance to optimize FOH’s technology functions and capabilities. We hope to provide boundless resolutions and to maximize efficiency in key strategic areas,” said Joe Fichera, Director of Innovation & Technology at Bizzell. “At Bizzell, we recognize the challenges and opportunities in each industry; leveraging our technical expertise helps us and our clients remain ahead of the curve.”

FOH services are designed to improve health outcomes and employee productivity, while reducing occupational health risks, absenteeism, and overall employee health care costs. FOH’s mission is to be the benchmark for Federal occupational health programs, setting the standard for a culture of health and safety across the government workforce.

About Bizzell

Established in 2010, The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified strategy, consulting, and technology firm that specializes in program management, administrative support, communications and outreach, conference management and logistical support, health services and research, technical assistance, and training and development. Bizzell’s expert staff and consultants work on health, scientific, education, environmental, research, and information technology projects that advance national priorities.

Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown from a staff of two in one small office, to a thriving firm with three offices in Lanham, MD, Rockville, MD, and Atlanta, GA, with ongoing projects around the world.

19Nov2019

Bizzell to Support HHS Presidential Advisory Council with Section 508 Compliance Services

November 19, 2019 (Lanham, MD) – The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) was recently awarded a contract to provide Section 508 Compliance Remediation Services in support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (Advisory Council). Section 508 is a federal law mandating that all electronic content developed and distributed by government agencies must be accessible to all people, including those with visual, auditory, or other disabilities.

As a part of this contract, Bizzell will convert digital-based and mobile applications, products, and communications to Braille, large type, audio files, and other alternative communication methods. Bizzell will also create, test, duplicate, and maintain these products for HHS’ Advisory Council.

Section 508 ensures equal access to information for people with disabilities and promotes their self-dignity and ability to retrieve, read, and manage information at their leisure such as applying for a job with the federal government, using an agency’s website to get information about a program, or completing online forms. HHS estimates that an average of 13.2 people in the United States have a disability that 508 compliance will help with, and Bizzell is honored to be part of these efforts.

About Bizzell

Established in 2010, The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified strategy, consulting, and technology firm that specializes in program management, administrative support, communication and outreach, conference management and logistical support, health services and research, technical assistance, as well as training and development. Bizzell’s expert staff and consultants work on health, scientific, education, environment, research, and information technology projects that meet national priorities.

Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown from a staff of two in one small office, to a thriving firm with three offices, in Lanham, MD; Rockville, MD; and Atlanta, GA; and with ongoing projects across the world.

14Nov2019

Bizzell is a Contributing Sponsor for the March of Dimes Maryland–National Capital Area Chapter Signature Chefs Auction

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) takes pride in supporting the communities that we serve. On November 14, 2019, Dr. Anton Bizzell, CEO; and other Communications Team members, Trevis Cage, Director of Corporate Communications; and Raigan Wheeler, Communications Specialist, attended the March of Dimes (MOD) Maryland–National Capital Area Chapter Signature Chefs Auction where guests enjoyed a variety of top-tier, local cuisine and participated in an exclusive live auction. All proceeds contributed to the MOD mission go toward improving the health of ALL moms and babies. Dr. Bizzell is a MOD Maryland Market Board Member, and the Bizzell Group was a proud sponsor of the event.

MOD leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. They believe that every baby deserves the best possible start. For 80 years, MOD has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. They’re building on that legacy to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socioeconomic background, or demographics. They advocate for policies that prioritize their health, support radical improvements to the care moms and babies receive, and pioneer research to find solutions to the biggest health threats to moms and babies. MOD pioneered the vaccine research leading to the eradication of polio in the United States, and then shifted focus to address some of the biggest health threats to moms and babies with innovations like folic acid, newborn screening, and surfactant therapy. Today, they educate medical professionals and the public about best practices, support lifesaving research, provide comfort and support to families in neonatal intensive care units, and advocate for those who need them most: moms and babies. For more information on the March of Dimes, please visit https://www.marchofdimes.org/.

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