Health
Demand in Addiction Treatment Spikes During COVID-19 Pandemic
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, we have seen a dramatic rise in addiction and the subsequent need for treatment across America. According to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost half of all Americans currently believe that the pandemic is harming their mental health.
This has led to a 1,000 percent increase in the number of calls received by a federal emergency hotline in April 2020 when compared to the same month last year. The hotline, run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration, saw 20,000 people text the number in April alone.
Talkspace, an online therapy company, has also reported a 65% spike in clients since the middle of February, around when the Coronavirus started making significant headway across America and Europe.
Co-founder and CEO of Talkspace, Oren Frank, told the Washington Post: “People are really afraid. What’s shocking to me is how little leaders are talking about this. There are no White House briefings about it. There is no plan.”
Similarly, Telehealth virtual visits increased by 50% in March alone, including addiction treatment services.
Frank also revealed that the rise in demand for services such as his own followed almost exactly the same rise as the virus itself across the United States.
Experts have analysed the patterns shown after economic downturns, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters and have subsequently predicted a continued spike in overdose deaths and substance abuse.
Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute hypothesized that an additional 4,800 people could lose their lives due to overdoses due to the current pandemic.
In the face of such a clear and alarming rise in mental health issues and a dependence on substances such as alcohol and drugs, the government advice is to continue treatment wherever possible.
Despite this, the United States federal substance abuse and mental health agency revealed in May that only 1 percent of the desired funding had been granted to them.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration issued the following statement: “For those with substance use disorders, inpatient/residential treatment has not been shown to be superior to intensive outpatient treatment. Therefore, in these extraordinary times of risk of viral infection, it is recommended that intensive outpatient treatment services be utilized whenever possible.”
What is even more worrying is that, like the vast majority of businesses, treatment facilities are also struggling in the current financial climate.
In May, 57% of surveyed organizations in North Carolina revealed that they had already been forced to close one of their programs due to financial constraints. 27% had laid off staff and 43% precited that they would have to close altogether by June.
As the issue of addiction continues to spiral out of control with sufferers confined to their own homes and denied access to face-to-face treatment, the demand on what few services remain seems to be unstable.
It remains to be seen whether the US government diverts further funds to ease the strain on addiction treatment in the following months as the COVID-19 pandemic reigns on.
Health
Precision with Compassion: How Dr. Nader Amiran Balances Clinical Expertise with Human Connection
Somewhere along the way, healthcare became fast, technical, and transactional. Patients learned to nod along, accept explanations they barely understood, and hope the treatment worked.
Dr. Nader Amiran chose a different path. At AIRE Dental Group, he has built a reputation not just for clinical accuracy, but for the way he connects with people before he ever connects the data. His work sits at the intersection of science and trust, where listening is not a courtesy, but a diagnostic tool.
For Dr. Amiran, empathy is not a soft skill layered on top of technical expertise. It is the foundation of precision. He believes you cannot treat what you do not fully understand, and understanding begins long before imaging or exams. It starts with hearing how a patient lives, where their discomfort shows up, and how long they have been carrying it.
This philosophy shapes every interaction in his practice. Consultations are unhurried. Questions are encouraged. Patients are not rushed toward conclusions. Instead, Dr. Amiran takes time to understand the full picture, knowing that pain rarely exists in isolation. Jaw discomfort, headaches, or bite changes often come with frustration, fear, or confusion after years of unanswered questions. Those emotions matter because they influence how patients experience care.
One of the defining elements of his approach is how he explains complex findings. Dentistry, especially TMJ and functional care, can feel overwhelming. Dr. Amiran makes it accessible. He uses visuals, models, and imaging to show patients what is happening inside their own bodies. The goal is clarity, not complexity. When patients understand what is causing their symptoms, anxiety gives way to confidence. Studies have shown that patients forget between 40% and 80% of the medical information provided by healthcare practitioners immediately, which highlights the importance of clear explanations and visual education during consultations.
This commitment to education did not come without challenges. Early in his career, Dr. Amiran often treated patients who had already seen multiple providers and still felt stuck. Many had received treatment without ever truly understanding their diagnosis. Those experiences reinforced an important lesson: even the most accurate clinical decision loses impact if the patient feels excluded from the process. The role of patient education in improving compliance and treatment outcomes has been widely supported in clinical literature evaluating communication strategies in healthcare (Kessels, 2003).
In response, he made education central to care. Treatment plans are discussed in plain language, with a clear explanation of why each step matters. Patients are invited into the decision-making process rather than being handed instructions. This approach builds trust, but it also improves outcomes. When people understand their condition, they are more engaged and more invested in maintaining progress. Studies evaluating patient-centered care models have demonstrated that involving patients in treatment decisions improves adherence and satisfaction rates (Street et al., 2009).
Precision still plays a critical role. Dr. Amiran relies on advanced diagnostics, careful evaluation, and evidence-based planning. Technology provides valuable insight, but he is clear about its role. Data informs decisions; it does not replace judgment. Imaging shows structure, but listening reveals context. Together, they create a more complete understanding than either could alone.
What sets his work apart is how seamlessly these elements come together. Clinical accuracy does not overshadow compassion, and empathy does not dilute rigor. Each strengthens the other. By treating patients as partners rather than problems to solve, Dr. Amiran creates an environment where healing feels collaborative, not imposed.
At AIRE Dental Group, patients often describe a shift in how they experience care. For the first time, they feel heard. For the first time, the explanation makes sense. That sense of clarity changes everything. It turns treatment from something that happens to them into something they actively participate in.
Dr. Nader Amiran’s approach challenges a common assumption in modern medicine: that efficiency and empathy cannot coexist. His work proves they can. When precision is guided by understanding, results last longer, trust runs deeper, and care feels human again.
In a field driven by innovation, his philosophy is a reminder that the most powerful tool in dentistry is still the ability to listen.
References:
Kessels RPC.
Patients’ memory for medical information.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2003.
Street RL, Makoul G, Arora NK, Epstein RM.
How does communication heal? Pathways linking clinician–patient communication to health outcomes.
Patient Education and Counseling. 2009.
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