Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who leads care
- an on-call psychiatrist specializing in addiction medicine
- Format
- video or audio call at any time of day or night, home visit when indicated
- Duration
- urgent consultation 20–40 minutes
- Confidentiality
- no surname, no registration on a state registry, medical confidentiality
- When it’s urgent
- seizures, delirium, hallucinations, unconsciousness, overdose — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- clear actions for the next few hours and a plan for further care
What you should know
Alcohol problems rarely happen during business hours. More often it is three in the morning on the fifth day of a binge, or a Sunday when a loved one can’t stop. The path to help is short: you message us on WhatsApp or call, and the administrator immediately asks a few safety questions. If there are seizures, confusion, or hallucinations, or the person is unconscious, we ask you to call 103 or 112 right away. If there is no threat, the on-call addiction specialist gets in touch.
The doctor asks what was used, how much, and for how long, what symptoms there are now, whether there are chronic illnesses, and what medications have been taken. They explain what to do over the next few hours and what not to do — for example, not taking sleeping pills together with alcohol. If an IV drip or an examination is needed, a doctor’s home visit is arranged. At night, the roads in Almaty are clearer, and a doctor can arrive faster than during daytime traffic. This really helps.
When You Need Urgent Help from an Addiction Specialist
- a drinking binge has lasted several days, and you can’t stop on your own
- severe shaking, sweating, a racing heart, and nausea after stopping drinking or using
- anxiety, fear, and insomnia in the first days without alcohol
- you have mixed alcohol with medications or drugs and are afraid of the consequences
- an intoxicated loved one is behaving strangely or aggressively
- a relapse after a period of sobriety, and you don’t know what to do
- you need advice right now, and waiting until morning is too hard
If heavy drinking has lasted more than two or three days, or there is shaking, vomiting, blood-pressure spikes or insomnia, you need a doctor rather than stopping alone. An online consultation is free and helps assess the risks before a visit. For seizures, confusion or hallucinations call 103 or 112.
Why Night and Weekend Crises Are So Common
With addiction, the body becomes used to the constant presence of alcohol or a drug. When use stops or is sharply reduced, withdrawal syndrome develops: anxiety, tremors, insomnia, blood pressure spikes, and, in severe cases, seizures and delirium. The peak often falls in the evening and at night, when anxiety intensifies and usual sources of help are unavailable. This leads to a feeling of hopelessness and the urge to drink more to feel better.
Weekends and holidays in a big city are a time of office parties, get-togethers, and feasts, when it is easy to lose control over how much you drink. A binge that started on Friday turns by Monday into a problem that makes it impossible to go to work. At such moments, relatives don’t know whom to turn to: outpatient clinics are closed, and calling an ambulance feels awkward. A 24/7 addiction specialist fills this gap.
How a 24/7 Addiction Consultation Works
You message or call at any time. The on-call addiction specialist joins by video or audio and assesses the condition based on your description and, if possible, on how the person looks on screen: speech, orientation, tremors, skin color. They give specific instructions for the next few hours: fluids, rest, monitoring, and what to avoid. If an examination or detoxification is needed, the doctor arranges a home visit. The consultation can be continued in the morning.
An IV drip, a blood pressure check, or an ECG cannot be done online. In case of seizures, confusion, hallucinations, chest pain, vomiting blood, loss of consciousness, or a suspected overdose, call 103 or 112 — that is faster and safer. Alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries) is never done at night or while the person is intoxicated: only after an examination, once sober, and with consent.
How we help
Urgent assessment and instructions
The first minutes of the conversation focus on safety. The addiction specialist determines whether there are signs of dangerous complications and decides whether an ambulance, a home visit, or simply monitoring is needed. You receive a clear list: what to do now, which symptoms to watch for, and when to call back. This eases the confusion and helps you get through the hardest hours.
A doctor’s home visit
If detoxification is needed, the doctor comes to your home with the necessary equipment. They carry out an examination, measure blood pressure and pulse, put in an IV drip when indicated, and monitor the patient’s condition. Home visits are available to various districts of Almaty — from Alatau to Medeu — and to the suburbs. Anonymously, without drawing the neighbors’ attention.
Help after a relapse
A relapse after a period of sobriety does not mean all is lost. The addiction specialist helps stop the drinking or drug use, assess whether detoxification is needed, and work out what led to the relapse. The treatment plan is then adjusted: psychotherapy is intensified, relapse-prevention medications are discussed after an examination, and family support is brought in.
Support for relatives
At night, it is often not the patients themselves who call, but their loved ones. The doctor explains how to keep an intoxicated person safe: don’t leave them alone, lay them on their side, and don’t give them any medication that hasn’t been prescribed. They help you understand when to call an ambulance and how to talk about treatment in the morning without a fight. This helps the family not feel alone.
Myths and facts
MythPeople only call an addiction specialist at night in extreme cases
FactYou can reach out in any situation where you need advice — there is no need to wait until things get really bad. An early consultation often helps avoid complications and an ambulance call. The doctor won’t judge you.
MythYou can take a sleeping pill to break a binge
FactCombining alcohol with sleeping pills and sedatives is dangerous: it can suppress breathing. This must never be done without a doctor’s prescription. The addiction specialist will suggest safe steps and assess whether a home visit is needed.
MythYou can end a binge on your own by abruptly quitting
FactAbruptly stopping a prolonged binge can cause severe withdrawal, seizures, and delirium. It is safer to come off a binge under medical supervision. An online consultation will help assess the risk.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Online addiction specialist consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| Online consultation for relatives | 12 000 ₸ |
| Addiction specialist home visit | 40 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
Psychiatry Online in Almaty: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Almaty is first of all about privacy: no clinic visit, no waiting room. A private room and headphones are enough. Data is stored in a secure system with restricted access and does not enter any state registry without legal grounds.
Questions and answers
Is an addiction specialist really available around the clock?
Yes, the Psychiatry Online on-call addiction specialist is available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Waiting time depends on demand, but we try to connect you with a doctor as quickly as possible. If there is a threat to life, don’t wait — call 103 or 112. Message us any time.
How long does a doctor’s home visit take at night?
It depends on the district and how busy the teams are. At night, Almaty’s roads are clearer, so a home visit often takes less time than during the day. The administrator will give you the exact time when booking. Until the doctor arrives, the online addiction specialist will tell you what to do.
Can I reach out on behalf of a loved one who is drunk right now?
Yes. The doctor will talk to you, assess the situation based on your description, and advise you on how to keep the person safe. If the person is willing, you can try to bring them into the conversation. Treatment, including a home visit, is provided with the patient’s consent, except in cases provided for by the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
What should I do if hallucinations appear?
Hallucinations, confusion, and intense fear after stopping a binge can be signs of alcohol withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens), a life-threatening condition. Call 103 or 112 immediately. Don’t leave the person alone, and remove any dangerous objects.
Is the 24/7 consultation anonymous?
Yes. You don’t have to give your surname, and the consultation does not involve registration on a state registry. Information is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” A home visit can also be anonymous. The neighbors won’t find out anything.
Can I get help if I’m outside the city?
Online consultations are available from anywhere — Talgar, Konaev, Kaskelen, or a country house in the mountains. A doctor’s visit to the suburbs is possible; the administrator will confirm the timing. If you can’t reach the doctor and the condition is getting worse, call 103 or 112. There is a phone signal almost everywhere.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
