Reviewed by: Askar Sarsenbayev, MD, addiction medicine physician · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who leads care
- A psychiatrist specializing in addiction medicine; a psychotherapist when indicated
- Format
- Video consultation with the patient or relatives, follow-up sessions
- Duration
- First appointment 40–60 minutes, care over several months
- Anonymity
- Medical confidentiality under Kazakhstan law; no registry listing at a private clinic
- When it's urgent
- Seizures, confusion, hallucinations, overdose — 103 or 112
- Outcome
- An assessment of addiction and risks and a concrete treatment plan
What you should know
Why does a person keep drinking or using even though they understand the harm? Addiction changes the brain's reward system: the substance triggers a powerful release of dopamine, and over time the brain begins to perceive using as a vital need. At the same time, control by the frontal lobes weakens, and the decision “I won't today” stops working. Clinical guidelines describe addiction as a chronic illness that requires treatment, not just willpower.
Many people put off seeking help for fear of exposure and of being placed on the state narcology registry. An online consultation removes this barrier: the conversation takes place from home, without a visit to a state dispensary. For an executive or civil servant with a packed schedule who cannot “disappear” for half a day, a late-evening video appointment is a real chance to get a professional assessment. An addiction specialist at Psychiatry Online looks at the situation, assesses the risks and suggests concrete steps, without moralizing.
When it's time to talk to an addiction specialist
- it's hard to stop after the first drink or dose, and your “plans” fall through
- you need more and more alcohol or a substance to get the same effect
- morning shakes, sweating and anxiety that go away after you drink or use
- drinking or using interferes with work and causes family conflicts or legal problems
- memory blackouts after drinking, risky behavior
- attempts to quit end in relapse within a few days
- loved ones say you have changed, and you get irritated when the subject comes up
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.
How addiction develops
Heredity, metabolic features, psychological factors and environment all contribute to the development of addiction. Genetics influences how the body reacts to alcohol and how quickly tolerance develops. Use often begins as a way to relieve tension, fall asleep or feel more confident. Gradually the brain rewires itself, and without the substance anxiety, irritability and insomnia appear, which push the person toward using again.
Depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, traumatic experiences and chronic stress raise the risk. A corporate culture of “celebrating” after work and the long winter with short daylight hours, when many people make up for boredom and fatigue with alcohol, also play a role. A separate risk group is people who take sleeping pills and sedatives for long periods without supervision. The addiction specialist assesses all of these factors.
How an online addiction consultation works
Join from a place where no one can overhear you, and be sober during the conversation — this makes the assessment more accurate. The doctor will ask what you use and how often, for how long, whether there have been relapses or withdrawal symptoms, and about chronic illnesses and medications. Standard questionnaires may be used. Have discharge summaries and test results ready, if you have them. At the end you receive an explanation, a risk assessment and a plan: outpatient treatment, a doctor's home visit or inpatient care.
Detox, IV drips and assessment of severe withdrawal cannot be done online. In case of seizures, confusion, hallucinations or a suspected overdose, call 103 or 112. Alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries) is carried out only in person, after an examination and confirmed sobriety, with written consent and as part of comprehensive treatment. Medication is prescribed in accordance with Kazakhstan's legislation.
How we help
Motivational interviewing
This evidence-based method helps a person work out for themselves what they gain and what they lose from using and reach their own decision about change. The doctor does not pressure or shame; instead they ask questions and reflect the answers back. Such conversations work well online and often become the first step toward treatment.
Medication
For alcohol and opioid addiction, guidelines include medications that reduce cravings or block the effect of the substance, as well as treatment for co-occurring depression and anxiety. Medications from the relevant classes are used; prescribing and issuing a prescription follow Kazakhstan's legislation after an examination. Self-medication is dangerous.
Psychotherapy and relapse prevention
Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to recognize high-risk situations, cope with cravings and change habitual patterns. Relapse prevention work is an important part of treatment. Sessions are held online on a regular basis, which is especially valuable in the first months of sobriety, when the risk of returning to use is at its highest and support is needed more often.
Family work
Relatives are often the first to seek help. The addiction specialist explains how to communicate with an addicted loved one, how to avoid enabling their use, how to persuade them to start treatment and how to look after yourself. Online family sessions help agree on ground rules and reduce conflict at home. Family members can join from different parts of the city.
Myths and facts
MythSeeing an addiction specialist means instant registration
FactA consultation at a private clinic does not mean being placed on a registry. The information is protected by medical confidentiality under Kazakhstan law, and it can be disclosed only in cases expressly provided for by law. You can seek help anonymously.
MythIf you only drink beer, you won't get addicted
FactAddiction is determined not by the type of drink but by the amount of alcohol, frequency and loss of control. Regular beer drinking builds tolerance and withdrawal just as spirits do.
MythGet “coded” and the problem is solved
FactCoding does not treat addiction on its own. It is possible only after an examination, when the person is sober and has given consent, and it works only as part of comprehensive treatment with psychotherapy and support.
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 Astana
| 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 Astana: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Astana and Akmola Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Astana 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
Can I get a consultation anonymously?
Yes. You do not have to give your full name at the first consultation. Information about your visit is protected by medical confidentiality under the Kazakhstan Code “On Public Health and the Healthcare System” and is not passed on to your employer. Documents with personal data are prepared only when necessary and with your consent.
Can relatives seek help without the patient?
Yes. The family can get advice on how to behave, how to suggest treatment and what to do if things get worse. The addiction specialist will help prepare the conversation with your loved one. The doctor may not discuss medical information about the patient without their consent, but will give general recommendations.
Will the doctor prescribe medication online?
The doctor may recommend a class of medication if it is indicated. Prescribing and issuing a prescription depend on Kazakhstan's legislation and the requirements for an initial examination, so an in-person appointment or a home visit is often needed. A reputable clinic will never promise a prescription without an examination.
What should I do if a loved one is on a drinking binge?
Don't try to take the alcohol away abruptly and don't give them medication on your own. If there are seizures, confusion or hallucinations, call 103 or 112. In other cases, contact an addiction specialist online: they will assess the situation and arrange a doctor's home visit.
How long does addiction treatment take?
The acute stage lasts days or weeks, but what matters most is long-term support: guidelines speak of at least several months of treatment and follow-up. Regular online sessions make it possible to continue treatment through the long winter, when the risk of relapse is higher, and despite a busy work schedule.
Do you work at night and on weekends?
Yes. Addiction specialist consultations at Psychiatry Online are available around the clock, seven days a week. You can get in touch at any time, and a doctor will join a video call. If life is in danger — seizures, loss of consciousness, overdose — call 103 or 112 immediately.
Where can I be seen in Astana?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. 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
