The Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinics in Manitoba are helping people deal with their addictions faster than ever before.

The clinics are designed to treat those seeking help for substance abuse without the need for a referral or an appointment, which is expected to cut down on wait times to see an addictions specialist, according to Health Minister Cameron Friesen.

"People who were disclosing an addiction and a need for help often would walk into a doctor's clinic or maybe a hospital ER and be assessed, but have to wait weeks and weeks in order to see an addictions specialist," said Friesen. "We are working through these new clinics to get that wait time down to less than one week."

The RAAM clinic provides assessment, counselling, the prescribing of appropriate medication and connections for adult patients to community treatment programs and primary care physicians.

According to the province, about 340 patients have accessed the RAAM clinics since the beginning of September when the first clinic opened up.

"Those clinics are a victim of their own success. They are seeing incredible volumes and people are thanking us and describing the clinics a real step forward," said Friesen.

The MLA for Morden-Winkler was asked if the province might establish an additional clinic in the Pembina Valley somewhere.

"If I put on my MLA hat for a moment ... yes, these issues also affect us here in southern Manitoba and in Southern Health-Sante Sud. We know that there will be an increasing desire to see these resources centred in other places in Manitoba. Part of the challenge will be ensuring that we can surround those clinics with the proper resources including doctors who have that addictions medicine specialization."