Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen has announced five clinics will open this summer in Manitoba for people seeking treatment for substance-related addictions including alcohol and drugs. He explains how they will work.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen"These clinics will allow individuals to be able to go into a facility, which will be part of existing facilities, and to say, we're looking for help. And the clinics will have specialized individuals who will be able to connect them into the primary care system. These clinics will help people navigate the system but also help the general health care system that was struggling sometimes to provide care to people who are dealing with addiction."

He says two of the clinics will be located in Winnipeg, one in Brandon with the other two locations to be determined shortly. He outlines how they will make those decisions.

"We'll look at the evidence of where we're getting the most calls or interactions when it comes to addictions. But, regardless of where the locations are, that doesn't mean that individuals from anywhere in Manitoba can't access them. Whether it's somebody form Morden or Winkler or Steinbach or Boissevain, they can access the Winnipeg clinics as well. Location is not a determinant of who can access the clinic."

He notes despite all the media coverage of addictions to crystal meth and opioid drugs, 80 per cent of addiction issues in the province involve alcohol.

Goertzen says the intent here is to have a more effective system of helping addicts who reach out for help.

"One of the things we're hearing from our consultant is that the addiction system in Manitoba is a bit like a pinball machine; you get launched into the system and then you bounce around a lot without a lot of direction. So, this will help to provide more clear direction."

Goertzen is hoping the five clinics will give Manitoba enough capacity to help all people who are seeking treatment.

"We're going to find out. The five clinics are going to be the start and we'll find out what kind of uptake we get on them. There has been good experience in Ontario on this, but it is new for Manitoba so we don't exactly know what the uptake will be."