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Category Archives: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

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

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. “We are excited about the commitment he brings and look forward to the impact that he will have on the Bizzell community”.