Manitoba still has no plan for new rapid-access addiction clinics, despite inquest judge's recommendation

With no current plans to open new in-person rapid access to addiction medicine clinics, a woman who lost her brother to an overdose worries Manitoba's government is not doing enough to prevent substance-related deaths.

"We have proof of why they are needed," Carol Packer told CBC News. "My brother lost his life for that specific reason: he couldn't get access to the help that he needed."

Packer's brother, Lee Earnshaw, was found unresponsive in a tent set up along the banks of the Seine River in Winnipeg in June 2021. He died from an accidental overdose after taking a toxic mix of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Before he died, Earnshaw told CBC News he had been turned away from a RAAM clinic twice in Winnipeg. An inquest report into Earnshaw's death, released in October, found he ultimately was seen at one of the facilities, but there were no beds available for him to stay in until he could receive treatment. 

Tracey Lord, the judge examining Earnshaw's death, said in her findings that a "seamless transition" is needed so people who are ready for recovery can access treatment. 

She recommended increasing the number of RAAM clinics operating in Manitoba to reflect the growing need for treatment. She also suggested that walk-in clinic hours of operation be increased to five days per week.

Manitoba has seven RAAM clinics. The last new one opened at Winnipeg's Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre in 2023. 

Shared Health told CBC News there are no current plans to open any additional in-person facilities. The health authority said it will continue enhancing access to its virtual drop-in option to access same-day/next-day virtual appointments using a phone, tablet or computer.

Packer said "disappointment" falls short of conveying what she feels about the current RAAM approach.

"If the government has no plans for new RAAM sites, they're disregarding the findings that were intended to prevent future deaths," she said.

While Packer thinks having a virtual appointment option is a plus, there could be barriers to accessing services that way, she said. People experiencing homelessness might not have access to a device needed for a call, Packer said. 

She said she also struggles to see how the virtual expansion can address the need for increasing capacity at in-person clinics. The lack of beds and wait times prevented Earnshaw from accessing the care he needed in the first place, Packer said. 

The inquest judge also recommended that one of Winnipeg's RAAM clinics operate with extended evening and weekend hours. That site is still closed on Sundays and only open until 4:30 p.m. the rest of the week. 

"This is a life-and-death situation. How long are we going to be a work in progress, and how many more lives are going to be lost while we're waiting?" Packer said.