Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F10.2
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist-narcologist (addiction specialist) and a psychotherapist, with a clinical psychologist if needed
- Format
- Video consultations, support via messaging apps, in-person stages when clinically indicated
- Duration
- Sessions last 45–60 minutes; a course lasts from several months to a year
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan; anonymous requests without a registry entry
- When it’s urgent
- Seizures, hallucinations, confusion, or suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- Lasting sobriety, relapse prevention skills, and rebuilding your life
What you should know
Alcohol dependence syndrome (F10.2 in ICD-10) is a chronic disorder in which a person develops a strong craving for alcohol, loses control over how much they drink, and keeps drinking despite harm to their health and social life. International clinical guidelines describe treatment as a long-term process that includes medical, psychological, and social care, along with relapse prevention.
Online support makes it possible to meet with a specialist regularly without travel or waiting rooms, which is especially important for keeping a patient engaged in treatment. Psychiatry Online offers video consultations with an addiction specialist and a psychotherapist in Kaskelen and, when needed, arranges a doctor’s home visit or a referral to a hospital. This format is suitable for people who do not have an acute condition requiring immediate medical care.
Signs It’s Time to Seek Help for Drinking
- drinking more often or in larger amounts than you planned
- unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop drinking
- spending a lot of time drinking and recovering from it
- a strong urge to drink that is hard to ignore
- problems at work, in the family, or with your health because of alcohol
- needing more alcohol to get the same effect as before
- withdrawal symptoms when you stop: tremor, sweating, anxiety, insomnia
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.
What Leads to Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol dependence develops through an interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Biological factors include a hereditary predisposition and individual features of metabolism; psychological ones include a tendency toward anxiety, depressive states, and difficulty regulating emotions. Social factors include easy access to alcohol, cultural drinking norms, and an environment in which drinking is seen as a normal way to relax.
Regular drinking gradually changes how the brain’s reward system works: alcohol becomes the main source of relief, while other pleasures lose their importance. At the same time, tolerance grows, and more alcohol is needed to achieve the same effect. Understanding these mechanisms helps relieve the patient of guilt and focus on treatment aimed at regaining control.
How Treatment by Video Call Works
The first video session is devoted to assessment: the doctor asks about your drinking history, withdrawal symptoms, coexisting illnesses, mental state, and personal goals. For the call, you need a device with a camera, a stable internet connection, and a place where no one will interrupt the conversation. A plan is then drawn up: how often to meet, psychotherapy, medication support when indicated, and work with family members. Between sessions, support via messaging apps is available.
Detoxification for severe withdrawal and treatment of serious complications affecting the liver, heart, or nervous system are not done online. Lab tests, an ECG, and a physical examination require an in-person visit; in such cases, the doctor arranges a home visit in Kaskelen or a referral to a medical facility. If delirium, seizures, or suicidal thoughts are suspected, call 103 or 112 — hospital care is needed.
How we help
Motivational counseling
Motivational interviewing is a method that helps a person explore their own relationship with alcohol and strengthen their decision to change. The specialist does not lecture or judge, but helps the person put their own reasons for sobriety into words. The method works well online and is often used at the early stage of treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT teaches people to recognize the situations, thoughts, and emotions that trigger the urge to drink and to develop alternative ways of behaving. The patient keeps a diary, practices refusal skills, and plans what to do in high-risk situations. It is one of the most thoroughly studied methods for addiction and can be delivered effectively by video.
Medication support
When clinically indicated, the doctor may consider medications from groups that reduce alcohol cravings or support sobriety. Whether a medication can be prescribed and a prescription issued depends on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the requirement for an initial in-person examination. The decision is made individually, without one-size-fits-all regimens, and with your overall health in mind.
Working with the family
Loved ones often feel anxious and exhausted and do not know how best to support the person. Family consultations help set boundaries, move away from controlling behavior, and create an environment that supports sobriety. According to clinical research, involving relatives increases the likelihood of a lasting result.
Myths and facts
MythAlcoholism can’t be treated remotely
FactMany stages of treatment — consultations, psychotherapy, and follow-up — work well online. Telemedicine research shows comparable results for psychotherapeutic interventions. In-person visits are needed for examinations and acute conditions.
MythIf a person doesn’t want help, nothing can be done
FactMotivation does not have to be there from the very start — it can be built. Motivational counseling and work with the family help a person gradually arrive at a decision to seek treatment. However, any medical intervention requires voluntary consent.
MythA relapse means treatment didn’t work
FactRelapses happen to many people with addiction and are seen as part of the course of the illness. What matters is getting back into treatment quickly and understanding what led to the relapse. It is a reason to adjust the plan, not to give up on help.
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 Kaskelen
| Online assessment before the visit | free |
| Home alcohol detox (IV drip) | 40 000 ₸ |
| Night visit (10 pm – 8 am) | 50 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
You can book in Kaskelen online or at one of two branches: 9 Rayymbeka St., Kaskelen, 44 Karasay batyra St., Kaskelen. Our coordinator replies on WhatsApp within minutes at any time, and a doctor usually connects by video the same day; home visits are available too — all city districts and nearby settlements.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Kaskelen 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 alcoholism be fully treated online?
Most of the treatment — consultations, psychotherapy, and ongoing support — takes place online. However, severe withdrawal, the need for lab tests, or complications will require in-person stages. The doctor explains in advance which steps can be taken remotely and which are better done face to face.
How often are the online sessions?
At the start, sessions are usually held once or twice a week, and later the frequency may decrease. The schedule for online appointments with an addiction specialist in Kaskelen is tailored to your condition, work, and family circumstances. In difficult situations, you can contact the specialist outside the regular schedule.
Can prescriptions be issued by video?
Whether a medication can be prescribed and a prescription issued depends on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the requirement for an initial in-person examination. In some cases, an in-person appointment is needed first. The doctor explains the procedure honestly during the consultation and does not promise quick fixes without assessing your condition.
What should I prepare for the first consultation?
It helps to think in advance about how long and how often you have been drinking, whether you have had binges or previous treatment, and which medications you take. If you have test results or hospital discharge summaries, you can show them to the doctor. It is also worth choosing a quiet place and checking your connection.
Can relatives join the consultation?
Yes, with the patient’s consent, loved ones can take part in some of the sessions. This helps everyone understand the situation better and agree on how to provide support. In addition, relatives can have their own consultations, even if the patient is not yet ready for treatment.
Will I be put on a registry?
With an anonymous request, you are not placed on any registry. Information about your treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System” and may be disclosed only in cases expressly provided for by law.
Where can I be seen in Kaskelen?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 9 Rayymbeka St., Kaskelen and 44 Karasay batyra St., Kaskelen. 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
