Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who leads care
- an on-call psychiatrist-narcologist (addiction specialist)
- Format
- video or phone 24/7, including weekends and public holidays
- Duration
- urgent consultation 15–40 minutes
- Confidentiality
- medical confidentiality under Kazakhstan law, no registry entry
- When it is urgent
- seizures, hallucinations, confusion or breathing problems — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- urgency assessment, a home visit or referral arranged, advice until the doctor arrives
What you should know
Conditions related to the use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances often get worse at night and on weekends: withdrawal syndrome develops, anxiety builds, and insomnia and heart rhythm disturbances appear. These are exactly the hours when relatives most often feel lost and do not know how dangerous the situation is. Round-the-clock access to an addiction specialist means you can get a professional assessment without waiting until morning.
A night-time online addiction specialist consultation in Kokshetau helps distinguish between situations that require calling an ambulance immediately, a doctor’s home visit or a scheduled appointment. The on-call specialist gathers information about how long substance use has lasted, symptoms, coexisting illnesses and medications taken. Such a conversation does not take long and can help prevent dangerous complications, including alcohol withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens) and seizures.
When to Call an Addiction Specialist at Night
- severe shaking, sweating and a pounding heart after stopping drinking or using
- intense anxiety, fear and insomnia for several nights in a row
- being unable to stop a drinking binge that has lasted several days
- repeated vomiting, being unable to keep down water or food
- unusual behavior: suspiciousness, talking to people who aren’t there
- drinking alcohol together with sleeping pills or other medications
- family members are unsure whether an ambulance is needed and want advice
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 the Condition Can Suddenly Get Worse
With long-term regular drinking, the nervous system adapts to the constant presence of alcohol. When drinking stops abruptly, withdrawal syndrome develops: overexcitation of the nervous system shows up as tremor, anxiety, insomnia, and raised blood pressure and heart rate. Symptoms usually peak within the first 1–3 days, and some patients may develop seizures and alcohol withdrawal delirium.
The risk of a severe course is higher with drinking binges lasting many days, previous seizures or delirium, older age, liver and heart disease, and combining alcohol with sedatives. Intoxication with other psychoactive substances is also considered dangerous, as symptoms can build up over several hours. That is why seeing a doctor early is important even if the person seems to be feeling reasonably well.
How Round-the-Clock Online Help Works
After you reach out, the on-call addiction specialist gets in touch as quickly as possible. The doctor asks how many days the drinking or substance use has lasted, when the last use was, what symptoms are present now and what medications have been taken. If the patient can talk, their condition is assessed over video; if not, the conversation is held with family members. Based on this, the doctor gives advice for the next few hours and arranges a home visit if needed. An addiction specialist in Kokshetau is available at any time of day or night.
An online consultation does not replace emergency care. In case of seizures, loss of consciousness, hallucinations, confusion, breathing problems, chest pain or a suspected overdose, call 103 or 112 immediately. IV drips and detox are carried out only in person — during a doctor’s home visit or in hospital — and medications are prescribed in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
How we help
Urgent risk assessment
The on-call doctor uses structured questions about how long substance use has lasted, withdrawal symptoms, coexisting illnesses and previous complications. This makes it possible to decide whether home treatment is safe or hospitalization is needed. If there are signs of a threat to life, family members are advised to call an ambulance straight away.
Arranging a doctor’s home visit
If the patient’s condition allows, the addiction specialist arranges a home visit by a doctor for an examination and detox at home. Until the specialist arrives, family members are given advice: keep the person calm, offer small sips of fluid, do not give alcohol or sleeping pills on your own initiative, do not leave the person alone and watch their breathing.
Hospital referral
Hospital treatment is recommended for severe withdrawal, a history of seizures or delirium, serious physical illnesses or refusal to drink fluids. The doctor explains the admission procedure and the documents required. Involuntary hospitalization is possible only on the grounds provided for by Kazakhstan law.
Support after the acute phase
Once the acute symptoms have been relieved, it is important to continue treating the addiction: consultations with an addiction specialist, psychotherapy and relapse prevention methods, including, when indicated, alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries) after an examination, while sober and with the patient’s consent. Online visits help maintain contact with the doctor in the first weeks, when the risk of relapse is highest.
Myths and facts
MythAt night you can just give them a drink to ease the hangover and sort things out in the morning
FactDrinking alcohol during withdrawal temporarily reduces symptoms but prolongs the binge and increases the risk of serious complications. It is safer to get a doctor’s assessment right away, and if there are threatening signs, call 103 or 112.
MythIf the person is asleep, they must be feeling better
FactDeep sleep after a large amount of alcohol or sedatives can be accompanied by slowed breathing and inhaling vomit. It is important to lay the person on their side and watch their breathing, and if in doubt, call an ambulance.
MythA 24/7 addiction specialist is only needed for the seriously ill
FactA timely consultation is also helpful with moderate symptoms, because the condition during withdrawal can worsen over the course of a day. An early assessment helps choose a safe form of care and avoid an emergency hospital admission.
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 Kokshetau
| 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
You can book in Kokshetau online or at one of two branches: 92 Satpaeva St., Kokshetau, 182 Temirbekova St., office 4, Kokshetau. 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 Kokshetau 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
How long does it take for an addiction specialist to respond at night?
The on-call doctor gets in touch as quickly as possible, usually within a few minutes of your request. If the situation is life-threatening — seizures, loss of consciousness, breathing problems — do not wait for a reply: call 103 or 112 immediately.
Can a doctor come to the home at night?
Yes, home visits are arranged around the clock if the online assessment shows that treatment at home is safe. Arrival time depends on the distance and how busy the teams are. If the condition is severe, the doctor recommends hospital treatment or calling an ambulance.
What should we do until the doctor arrives?
Do not give alcohol or sedatives without the doctor’s approval, offer small sips of fluid, air the room, do not leave the person alone, and if they are drowsy, lay them on their side and watch their breathing. If their condition worsens, call 103 or 112.
Can I reach out anonymously?
Yes. A first name for communication is all that is needed for a consultation, and no documents are required. All information is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. Anonymity is also maintained during a doctor’s home visit.
What if the patient refuses help?
The addiction specialist will advise family members on how to talk to the person without confrontation and which signs require calling an ambulance. Voluntary consent is the foundation of treatment, and involuntary measures are used only as provided for by law. Consultations at Psychiatry Online are available to family members around the clock.
Does the service work on public holidays?
Yes, online consultations and home visits are available every day, including public holidays when many facilities operate on reduced hours. Patients in Kokshetau can contact Psychiatry Online at any time without waiting for the start of the working week.
Where can I be seen in Kokshetau?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 92 Satpaeva St., Kokshetau and 182 Temirbekova St., office 4, Kokshetau. 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
