Brandon’s Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Clinic is seeing record demand as more people across the region seek help for substance use. RAAM Clinic Manager Shannon Morrow‑Stritz says patient visits have climbed sharply in recent years, reflecting the growing impact of addiction across Manitoba. “Visits to the Brandon RAAM Clinic have nearly quadrupled since 2020,” Morrow‑Stritz said. “We went from 773 visits to almost 3,000 in 2025. That rise mirrors what we’re seeing province‑wide — addiction affects every demographic.”
The RAAM Clinic operates as a low‑barrier, walk‑in service, meaning no referral or appointment is required. Patients can access support for any substance, including opioids, alcohol, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and cannabis. Morrow‑Stritz says that accessibility is key to reaching people earlier, before their situation escalates into an emergency. “People can walk in and get help the same day,” she said. “We build treatment plans with the patient, and if they want family or supports involved, we welcome that.”
While RAAM itself is not a bed‑based program, it works closely with Prairie Mountain Health’s withdrawal management services. The clinic typically supports patients for three to six months, stabilizing them before transitioning them to long‑term care providers such as the Manitoba Opioid Support and Treatment (MOST) team.
To address barriers like stigma and transportation, Prairie Mountain Health has expanded its options. Morrow‑Stritz says the Digital Front Door allows patients to complete a virtual nursing assessment, while a mobile withdrawal management team provides non‑medical detox support within 150 kilometres of Brandon. “There’s no one‑size‑fits‑all approach,” she said. “We want to meet people where they’re at.”
Morrow‑Stritz also emphasized that relapse is part of the condition — and RAAM’s doors remain open. “Addiction isn’t linear. People are always welcome back, the first time and every time after,” she said. “The biggest predictor of success is connection, and our team focuses on building that relationship without judgment and clients visits are kept confidential.”
Peer support has become a big part of lending help to the process of recovery for all clients, “The mobile withdrawal support services team includes a nurse, a resource coordinator, an indigenous support officer and most recently an integral part of the team is our peer support worker provided by Peer Connections Manitoba. Our clients tell us this component of support is the most valuable. This team member has recovered from addiction. They’ve lived it and so they’re in a great position to help people decide how they want to move forward in their own recovery, this part of our team adds even more hope that recovery is possible,” Morrow-Stritz said.
The number of deaths caused by overdoses has seen a decrease in the past year which is a sign of hope for all the good work that goes into the clinic, “There was a total of 388 substance related deaths across Manitoba in 2025 which is down from 570 in 2024. That’s still too many, we don’t want any deaths related to substance disorders but at least those numbers are going in the right direction,” Morrow-Stritz said.
As the demand for help continues to increase year after year, so do the number of ways the services at the clinic can help. “We have to recognize what some Manitobans are living with and be able to develop our services to meet what those needs are so we can reduce harm in several ways. It’s extremely rewarding work and we have a very dedicated staff providing the care,” Morrow-Stritz said.
The Brandon RAAM Clinic is located at 20 – 7th Street, Brandon | open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with prescriber clinics available midday on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Get more info here.
