Reviewed byAkalam medical editorial teamupdated 11.11.2026
I see patients at our Almaty clinic, and I can see how the pace of life in a big city shapes the problems people come to us with. Many people hold on for years: office work from nine to nine, a glass of wine in the evening “to unwind,” then two, a corporate party on Friday, a hangover all weekend. People like this come to a doctor when they can no longer stop, or when they can no longer sleep without alcohol or sleeping pills. Another common picture is anxiety and panic attacks in young professionals who are afraid to admit it even to themselves.
We have two locations in Almaty. Our offices at 76 Rozybakiev St., office 25 and 171 Aiteke Bi St., office 14 are in the central part of the city and are easy to reach from Almaly, Bostandyk and Auezov districts, and from Medeu district if you avoid the evening rush hour. Our mobile teams work around the clock across the whole city, from Nauryzbay and Alatau districts to Turksib, and also travel to Kaskelen, Talgar, Boralday, Otegen Batyr, Irgeli and other suburbs. During rush hour the drive takes longer, and we will be upfront about how long it will take.
Almaty is a city where it’s easier to find a doctor than to make up your mind to call one. That’s why we try to make the first step as simple as possible. Calls are answered at any time of day or night; the doctor on duty works out whether you need an addiction physician, a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist, and which is safer: an appointment at the clinic, a home visit or inpatient care. We follow the clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria, and all patient information remains protected by medical confidentiality: treatment is paid and anonymous, with no registration on the state dispensary registry (the official record kept by state psychoneurological and narcological dispensaries).
Who to see
Addiction physician in Almaty: binge drinking, withdrawal, addiction
People call an addiction physician when a drinking binge has lasted several days, mornings start with tremors and nausea, and every attempt to quit ends in insomnia and anxiety. In Almaty, this is most often a home visit: the doctor arrives, examines the patient, checks blood pressure, does an ECG if indicated, and decides whether intoxication can be treated at home or inpatient care is needed. The addiction physician also manages addiction treatment after detox and discusses maintenance options, but only after an examination and with written consent.
Psychiatrist: when “just stress” has gone on too long
It’s worth seeing a psychiatrist if low mood, anxiety, insomnia or panic attacks last more than two weeks and get in the way of work; if strange thoughts, suspiciousness or voices have appeared; or if an elderly relative has started getting confused and lost in familiar places. At our Almaty clinic, the psychiatrist sees patients in person and online, and makes home visits. The psychiatrist carries out an examination, makes a diagnosis and selects treatment. If there are suicidal thoughts or aggression that puts others in danger, call 112.
Psychotherapist: working on causes and habits
A psychotherapist is needed when the acute condition is behind you and you need to understand why things keep repeating: relapses after months of sobriety, anxiety before every work meeting, burnout, family conflicts around addiction. We use CBT, family and group therapy; sessions last about an hour, usually once a week. Many people in Almaty choose online sessions from the office or from home so they don’t lose time in traffic, while holding the first sessions in person.
Psychologist and rehab: support for the family and the path to sobriety
A psychologist works with the relatives of a person with addiction, with teenagers, and with the aftermath of stress and relationship crises. A psychologist does not make diagnoses or prescribe medication, and refers you to a psychiatrist if there are signs of illness. Rehab is for those who need structure after detox: an inpatient program based on the 12-step model, outpatient rehab with evening groups that can be combined with work, or resocialization.
First call and appointment
The administrator will ask where the patient is (the district or suburb and the exact address) to estimate the arrival time. The doctor on duty will then ask about the patient’s age, what is happening and for how many days, when they last used, any chronic illnesses and current medications, and whether there have been seizures, hallucinations or high blood pressure. Have medication packages, discharge summaries and test results ready. If you are calling on behalf of a relative, tell us whether they agree to be examined: the doctor will not start treatment without an adult’s consent.
For home visits, the team arrives in an unmarked car and in ordinary clothes, so your neighbors in the residential complex won’t know who has come to see you. The doctor examines the patient, assesses the risks and proposes a plan; an IV drip and monitoring take from a few hours. If you come to the clinic on 76 Rozybakiev St., office 25 or 171 Aiteke Bi St., office 14 yourself, the first appointment lasts 40–90 minutes: a conversation, an examination, rapid tests and an ECG if needed, and then the doctor explains the diagnosis and treatment options.
- 01Call or WhatsAppThe administrator and the doctor on duty clarify the situation and tell you what to do right now.
- 02Examination or consultationThe doctor visits your home, sees you at the clinic or joins by video.
- 03Treatment planWe choose the format — at home, inpatient, psychotherapy or rehab — with a clear price.
- 04Ongoing supportYour doctor and psychotherapist stay in touch: follow-ups, family support and relapse prevention.
What happens next
The first few days
First, we treat the acute symptoms: intoxication, withdrawal, insomnia and severe anxiety. If the person is being treated at home, the doctor leaves written recommendations and a contact number, and comes back if things get worse. If confusion, seizures or hallucinations appear within the first 24 hours, we recommend transfer to the inpatient unit, and if there is a threat to life, call 103. We give the family a short consultation: what to say, what not to do, and how to avoid provoking conflict.
The first month
In Almaty, the first month is when familiar triggers return: work, meetings, the friends you used to drink with. That’s why regular visits to the doctor, starting psychotherapy and, for addiction, deciding on maintenance treatment or outpatient rehab are so important during these weeks. The psychiatrist assesses how the prescribed medications are working and adjusts the treatment. We offer relatives groups and counseling on codependency.
Beyond the first month
After that, treatment becomes less frequent but does not stop: maintenance sessions with a psychotherapist, recovery groups, and follow-up visits to the psychiatrist during long-term therapy. Together with the patient, we draw up a relapse plan: whom to call, what to do in the first hours, and how to prevent a new binge. Recovery takes months, and we stay in touch the whole time, including online if you have left the city.
Our specialists
Alcohol detox and medical detoxification, withdrawal management, aversion therapy, treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, home visits.
Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis, dual diagnosis (addiction with a mental disorder), choosing and adjusting treatment.
Anxiety disorders, panic attacks, insomnia, OCD, psychiatric care for older adults and dementia, online consultations.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, depression and panic attacks, addiction psychotherapy, stress and burnout.
Family and group therapy, intervention and treatment motivation, 12-step program, relapse prevention after rehab.
Counselling for families of people with addiction, codependency, support during rehab and reintegration.
Counselling for stress, anxiety and life crises, online sessions, support for teenagers and young adults.
Price list
| Alcohol detox at home | 24 990 ₸ |
| Hangover IV drip | 14 990 ₸ |
| Alcohol aversion therapy (coding) | 34 990 ₸ |
| Addiction doctor home visit | 20 000 ₸ |
| Psychiatrist consultation | 15 990 ₸ |
| Psychiatrist home visit | 35 000 ₸ |
| Online psychiatrist | 15 000 ₸ |
| Psychotherapist consultation | 14 990 ₸ |
| Psychologist consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| Family therapy | 25 000 ₸ |
| Rehab center | 299 000 ₸ |
| Outpatient rehab | 120 000 ₸ |
| Phone consultation | free |
Prices are approximate: the doctor confirms the exact cost after the examination, before treatment starts.
Confidential
We do not register patients with state dispensaries or share information with employers. You do not have to give your surname; doctors arrive in unmarked cars. Medical confidentiality is protected by the Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”.
FAQ
How quickly can an addiction physician come to my home in Almaty?
Usually within an hour to an hour and a half, but a lot depends on the district and traffic: it’s faster to the city center and Bostandyk, and longer to Nauryzbay district, Kaskelen or Talgar during rush hour. The doctor on duty will give you a realistic arrival time when you call. If the person’s condition gets worse while you wait (loss of consciousness, seizures, chest pain), call 103 immediately.
Which of the two clinics should I choose: 76 Rozybakiev St., office 25 or 171 Aiteke Bi St., office 14?
Both offer the same range of care: addiction physician, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychologist. Choose based on which is easier to get to. Both clinics are in the central part of the city, so pick the one closer to your route. The inpatient unit and the rehab program are shared by both Akalam clinics, so no transfer between them is needed, and records and treatment history are kept in a single system.
Will my employer find out that I’ve been treated?
No. We work on a paid, anonymous basis, with no registration on the state dispensary registry, and information about the patient is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” We do not issue certificates for your employer unless you ask for them. Disclosure is possible only in cases expressly provided for by law, for example in response to an official court request.
Do you make home visits to the Almaty suburbs?
Yes, our teams travel to Kaskelen, Talgar, Boralday, Otegen Batyr, Irgeli, Esik, Uzynagash and other towns and villages in Almaty Region. The travel time is longer than within the city, and this is taken into account when planning. If the patient needs to be moved to the inpatient unit, we will discuss transport and a medical escort. If there is an acute threat to life, call your local ambulance service: 103.
Can treatment be started online?
Yes, if the condition is not acute. By video, a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can carry out an initial assessment, advise relatives and provide ongoing support during treatment. But a drinking binge can’t be treated, and psychosis can’t be assessed, online: this requires an in-person examination, a blood pressure check and sometimes tests. If the doctor sees signs of a dangerous condition over video, they will suggest a home visit, a visit to the clinic or calling 103.
My husband won’t admit he has a problem. Where should our family start?
Start with a consultation for yourself, without your husband. An addiction physician or psychotherapist will explain how to talk about the problem without blame or threats, when to offer help, and how not to take on the consequences of his drinking or drug use. An adult cannot be treated without consent; involuntary treatment is possible only by court decision. But motivation often appears when the family’s behavior changes.
Sources and review
- ICD-10 and ICD-11: mental and behavioural disorders
- Clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan
- Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- WHO: mental health and substance use
- NICE and APA clinical guidelines