Dilico Anishinabek Family Care Rapid Access Addiction Medicine sees provincial government investment
By Rick Garrick
FORT WILLIAM — Dilico Anishinabek Family Care recently highlighted a provincial government investment of $200,000 for its Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) program to help improve rapid access to addictions care in the region.
“It’s team-based programming for individuals looking to make a change to their substance use,” says James Anderson, director of health and wellness at Dilico. “The clients are supported by a primary care provider, a nurse, a counsellor, peer support, and cultural services. It’s an introductory stage for those looking to make a change to their substance use, and they navigate them to the next steps, and that could be opiate replacement therapy, that could be navigating them to treatments, that could be navigating them to counselling or medical.”
The provincial government states that the Ministry of Health is providing Ontario Health with up to $1 million in new annualized funding beginning in the 2025–26 fiscal year to expand RAAM clinics, along with up to $2.3 million in new annualized funding to enhance Addictions Day and Evening Treatment programs. The expansion of services will help reduce barriers to care and ensure that more people across the region have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate addictions treatment when and where they need it.
“This investment is an important step forward in improving access to addictions care in northwestern Ontario,” says Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland. “By expanding RAAM day and evening treatment options, we are ensuring that more people can receive the support they need while continuing to meet their responsibilities at home, at work and in their communities.”
Anderson says Dilico is in partnership with two RAAM clinics in Fort William and Thunder Bay, and they also have a RAAM clinic in Longlac that supports Long Lake #58 and Ginoogaming. Dilico’s partners include the NorWest Community Health Centres, People Advocating for Change Through Empowerment, Thunder Bay Counselling, and St. Joseph’s Care Group.
“These are open to anybody, it doesn’t matter which community you are from, it doesn’t matter who you are — it’s typically 16-years-old and up,” Anderson says.
Anderson says the new funding will provide quicker access for people who are looking to make a change in their substance use.
“A lot of times when someone is looking to make a change, they’re looking to make it now and if you hold off, they may not be ready to make that change,” Anderson says.
Anderson says the RAAM clinics are designed to be as barrier free as possible.
“Part of the reason why we have peer supports is we want people that have gone through the same challenges that they’ve had and who have found success,” Anderson says. “So it’s a non-judgmental barrier-free approach.”
Anderson says they work around the client’s goals.
“So for instance, if alcohol is the challenge and you want to cut back, we’re supportive of that,” Anderson says. “It doesn’t have to be pure sobriety, we will navigate you through the changes you want to make as a client.”
Anderson says some of the clients who have used the RAAM clinic said it was the best decision they made in their life.
“Because of the services provided, we’ve seen a lot of people make significant progress in their lives,” Anderson says.
Anderson says there is a website for people who are looking for the hours of service and locations of RAAM clinics across northwestern Ontario, which is posted online.
“One big part is we need to remove the stigma about seeking change,” Anderson says. “If you start seeing people talk about this openly, and the RAAM clinic and the supports, you will see more individuals utilize them, you will see more people that are utilizing them and their families gather together and support those who are going through the program, and developing that community around decreasing the substance use challenges that we see out there.”