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News Release - Manitoba

November 14, 2018

Fifth Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine Clinic Opens in Selkirk

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Clinics Offer Front-line Help For Manitobans: Friesen




SELKIRK—Manitoba’s fifth Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic has opened, providing an option for residents of the Interlake-Eastern region seeking help from addictions, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced here today.

“In just over two months, RAAM clinics have proven to be successful in helping Manitobans seek treatment for addictions or substance-related concerns such as opioids, methamphetamine and alcohol,” said Friesen.  “Where it once took weeks or even months for individuals to get the help they seek, these clinics accelerate the process, helping them more easily navigate the health system and move them between addiction medicine specialists, primary care providers and community supports.”

The Selkirk RAAM clinic is in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority’s (IERHA) community health office at 237 Manitoba Ave.  The clinic provides assessment, counselling, the prescribing of appropriate medication and connections for adult patients to community treatment programs and primary care physicians.  No appointments or referrals are necessary to access services provided at the clinic, which will typically be staffed by an addictions physician and a combination of nurses, counsellors and outreach workers.

“Our RAAM clinic lets anyone struggling with an addiction know that they are not alone and that help is available to beat addiction.  We welcome anyone who wants to talk with health-care professionals who understand addiction.  We’ll use the next few months to better understand people’s needs and align clinic services with the care required,” said Ron Van Denakker, CEO of the IERHA. 

Since Aug. 31, when the first RAAM clinic opened at Winnipeg’s Crisis Response Centre, more than 340 patients have accessed RAAM services.  Subsequent clinic locations have since opened at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba’s River Point Centre location in Point Douglas, as well as in Brandon and Thompson.

“We are excited to be a part of the RAAM clinics that are helping Manitobans in need get quick and easy access to addictions treatment,” said Ben Fry, CEO of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.  “When someone is struggling with substance use, having access to treatment quickly and close to home, it makes it much more likely they will be successful in their recovery.”

In addition to working directly with patients, RAAM clinical teams support primary care providers including mentoring, reassessment and referral of patients.  Clinical teams collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure appropriate education tools and ongoing support are provided to health-care professionals.

The Manitoba government has provided $1.237 million for the creation of the clinics, highlighted as a successful model during extensive public and stakeholder consultations through the development of the Virgo report, which outlined a mental health and addictions strategy for Manitoba.

Information on RAAM clinics is available at the Manitoba Addictions helpline at 1-855-662-6605 (toll-free) or http://mbaddictionhelp.ca/services/rapid-access-to-addictions-medicine-raam/

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