'No one knew the extent of the crisis': Mother says Manitoba's new walk-in addiction clinics offer hope

For the six years that Christine Dobbstried to save her son from the ravaging opioid addiction that would eventually claim his life, she blameda fragmentedhealth-care system and herself for failing her family.

They were overwhelmed by a disease they knew nothing aboutand an unqualified medical system, she said at a Wednesday press conferenceduring which the Manitoba government announced the opening of its first walk-in clinic to helpthose in the throesof addiction.

"It's taken me a very long time to stop blaming myself, blaming the government and the health-care system, as no one knew the extent of the crisis," said Dobbs, after reading aheart-wrenchingcry for help written byher son, Adam Watson, before he died froma fentanyl overdosein 2016.

On Wednesday, Dobbsapplauded the government for the opening of the first of fivewalk-in clinics specifically for peoplestruggling with addictions.

"We need to be really happy that this is happening because it is thatopportunity" forhelp, she said.

Referred to asrapid access to addictions medicine (RAAM) clinics, the sites were first announced in May and are modelled afterfacilities inOntario, which integrateopioidreplacement therapy with primary care and provide assessment, counsellingand prescriptionsof appropriate medications.

The clinics, operating out of existing facilities, will offer walk-in patients access to intervention and community treatment programs and, in appropriate cases, safe drug replacements foropioids.

No appointments are necessary at the clinics.

Clinics will open in Brandon, Thompson, Selkirk

The first facilityopened Aug. 31 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg on 817BannatyneAve.

A second Winnipeg location will open on Sept. 13 at 146MagnusAve.in Point Douglas, while Brandon, Thompson and Selkirk will each have their own clinicswithinthe next two months.

"These new clinics will offer front-line help forManitobanswho are suffering from substance-related problems," Manitoba Health Minister CameronFriesensaid at Wednesday's press conference.

The RAAMclinical teams will collaborate with primary care providers in the mentoring, reassessment and referral of patients.

Between the pair ofWinnipeg facilities,they willopen for two hours a day, five days a week.

"Even in Ontario, [the clinics were]also a partial service to start up with, and we'll be looking to enhance that service as soon as we can determine that this is having value in this system," Friesen said.

TheBannatyneRAAMclinicwill be openTuesday,WednesdayandFriday for two hours a day, while the Magnus Avenue location will operate on Mondays andThursdays for two hours each day.

Recommended by Virgo report

The province has earmarked $1.2 million for the clinics, which wererecommended by Manitoba's new strategy for mental health and addictions services, referred to as the Virgo report.

• Addictions report calls for reduced reliance on 12-step programs, but some stand by their effectiveness

Friesensaidthe province believes this investment is a start, but still doesn't go far enough toeradicate addictions issues.

"The clinics we are announcing today are not intended to be the end and the summation of our government's efforts to address addictions in the province of Manitoba," he said."Rather, Ibelieve they represent a beginning point."

Clinic will offer walk-in patients access to intervention and treatment programs

6 years ago

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The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has opened a new Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine Clinic. It's the first of five to come in the on-going fight with drug and alcohol.

Dobbsagrees, she told reporters on Wednesday.She wants detox centres, follow-up care for addicts and a public campaignto reduce the stigma that often causes people to hide substance abuse.

"I hid my son's addiction for many years because of shame,and he was in my basement where he died because of shame," she said. "We need to talk about it more and more, that thisis a disease and it is a health issue."

Friesensuggested the clinics would reduce wait times at other health-care facilities, but will not replace the services ofemergency departments for the addicts most in need.

He wouldn't specify Wednesday whichfurther measures might beneededto combataddictions.

Some advocates have called for supervised consumption sites, which were recommendedin a draft version of the Virgo report butscrubbed from the final edition.

• Two-thirds of Winnipeggers support safe injection site, poll suggests

"I'm not saying that approach wouldn't provide value to someone. I think everything we do would provide some value to someone," Friesen said.

"I think as a policy maker and the minister of health, my responsibility is to take limited system resources, to listen hard to Manitobans, to listen hard to the evidence and then to make the best choices to put forward."

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With files from Dana Hatherly