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Categories Global Development, Insights, Tobacco Tags Behavioral Health, Global Development, Global Health, Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), The World Health Organization (WHO), Thought Leadership

World No Tobacco Day

Every year on May 31st, The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).  World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) highlights the health and other risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. WNTD focuses on the impact tobacco use has on the cardiovascular health and how tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Although Tobacco is considered a legal drug, the effects and complications related to tobacco use kill many of its users when used as intended by manufacturers. WHO has estimated that the use of tobacco is responsible for the death of about six million people across the world yearly. WHO’s new Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Smoking 2000-2025 report shows that 27% of people worldwide smoked in 2000, compared to 20% in 2016.

For tobacco users that are interested in quitting and living a healthier lifestyle, there are many resources available to help develop a solid “quit plan” that provides ways to stay focused, confident, and motivated throughout the journey. Smokefree.gov has 5 steps that can help smokers handle quit day, which is a smoker’s first day without cigarettes.

1. Make a Quit Plan

Having a quit plan can make quitting much easier. You can build your plan or find a program that works for you. Visit Create My Quit Plan for assistance.

2. Stay Busy

Staying busy is a great way to stay smoke-free. Being busy will help keep your mind off smoking and distract you from cravings. Here is a list of activity ideas that could help distract you:

  • Exercise
  • Chew gum or hard candy
  • Drink lots of water
  • Go to a movie
  • Spend time with non-smoking friends and family
  • Go to dinner with non-smoking friends and family

3. Avoid Smoking Triggers

Triggers are people, places, things, and situations that set off your urge to smoke. Here are some ways to avoid common smoking triggers:

  • Throw away your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays
  • Avoid caffeine and replace with water instead
  • Change your routine to avoid the things you might associate with smoking

4. Stay Positive

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself about quitting. Take things one day at a time and reward yourself for small milestones.

5. Ask for Help

You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for support from your family, friends, or a professional. They can help you get through the rough spots.

Categories Global Development, Insights, Tobacco Tags Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Communications & Outreach, Conference Services, Global, Global Development, Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Thought Leadership

17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health

Project Director Jenny Twesten traveled to Cape Town, South Africa to represent the National Cancer Institute’s Tobacco Control Research Branch at WCTOH held March 6-9, 2018. This international conference drew participants from around the world, with a particularly strong presence from those across Africa, an area where prevalence of cigarette smoking is on the rise and expected to continue to do so without strong tobacco control interventions. The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) supported meeting logistics for a pre-conference workshop entitled “Research to Inform the Development and Implementation of Tobacco Control Policies and Intervention” that was attended by at least 53 people from 23 different countries.

Bizzell also coordinated the NCI presence in the exhibit hall in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which nearly ran out of materials within 4 hours of the exhibit hall opening. In addition to attending sessions on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), economic and social costs of tobacco among women, tools for monitoring tobacco use, and ending the tobacco epidemic, Jenny presented on the Africa literature review that she and Katie Cleffi have been working on with NCI and met with various organizations and experts to discuss collaboration opportunities with NCI. The abstract presented has been published in a special supplement of Tobacco Induced Diseases. She will be presenting along with the other NCI delegates at an upcoming seminar on April 17 hosted by the NCI Center for Global Health to share insights from their WCTOH attendance.

Categories Bizzell, News, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Substance Use Disorder, Tobacco Tags Addiction, Alcohol, Awards & Recognition, CEO News, Corporate Updates, Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

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.

Categories News, Substance Use Disorder, Tobacco Tags Addiction, Alcohol, Awards & Recognition, Behavioral Health, CEO News, Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders (COPE), Corporate Updates, Health, News, Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

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.

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