Home / Health / New Addiction Clinic Opens in Northern Manitoba
New Addiction Clinic Opens in Northern Manitoba
5 Jun
Summary
- A new rapid access to addictions medicine clinic has opened in The Pas.
- This is the second RAAM clinic established in northern Manitoba.
- The clinic offers walk-in services for high-risk substance use without referral.
A new rapid access to addictions medicine (RAAM) clinic has opened in The Pas, becoming the second such facility in northern Manitoba. This crucial service is a collaborative effort between the Northern Health Region, Shared Health, and the Opaskwayak Health Authority, utilizing Shared Health's My Health Teams model.
The clinic is situated within The Pas's Rosaire House Addictions Centre, near St. Anthony's General Hospital. It will offer immediate assistance for high-risk substance use and addiction, including dependency on drugs and alcohol, with no referral required. Services range from managing co-occurring illnesses and infections to drug and alcohol cessation support, housing assistance, and educational resources.
Northern Manitoba, particularly the Northern Health Region, faces a high rate of substance abuse-related incidents. The establishment of this RAAM clinic provides much-needed localized support, reducing the necessity for residents to travel significant distances for treatment. This expansion aims to connect individuals with primary care and ongoing support, acknowledging addiction as a complex, lifelong journey.
Local officials, including The Pas Mayor Andre Murphy, have highlighted the critical need for expanded mental health and addiction services across Manitoba. While this clinic offers immediate relief, discussions are ongoing regarding future healthcare infrastructure, including a proposed new primary health-care clinic with a projected opening date that some deem too distant.
