Reviewed byBaurzhan Kassymov, MDAddiction physician · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- an addiction physician with a nurse; if there are psychotic symptoms, a psychiatrist consultation
- Where
- home visits across Almaty and its suburbs, and the Akalam inpatient unit with round-the-clock monitoring
- Duration
- a home visit takes 1.5–3 hours with an IV drip and monitoring; an inpatient stay usually lasts 1–3 days
- Anonymity
- care with no registration and no disclosure of information; the team arrives without identifying markings
- When it is urgent
- loss of consciousness, slow or rasping breathing, blue lips, seizures, or chest pain: call 103 immediately
- Outcome
- stabilized breathing, blood pressure, and consciousness, toxin elimination, and a plan for further treatment
What to know
Intoxication and withdrawal are different conditions, even though relatives often confuse them. Withdrawal begins when the substance is no longer being taken. Intoxication is what happens right after use: the person is agitated or, on the contrary, sluggish, their heart is racing, they see things that are not there, they do not recognize their loved ones, or they are vomiting. This is acute poisoning, and help is needed within the next few hours, and sometimes within the next few minutes.
In Almaty, these calls often come after all-night parties, from students’ rented apartments, and sometimes from dachas (country houses) in the foothills, where it takes an ambulance longer to arrive. The first rule: if the person does not wake up when you speak loudly, is breathing slowly or making rasping sounds, their lips are turning blue, or they have started having seizures, call 103 immediately without waiting for a private physician. In all other cases, an addiction physician will come, assess the person’s condition, and decide whether the patient can stay at home.
Signs of Acute Drug Intoxication You Must Not Ignore
- severe agitation, aggression, or panic that cannot be calmed with words
- marked sluggishness and drowsiness; the person struggles to answer questions
- a very fast pulse, a feeling that the heart is “jumping out of the chest,” chest pain
- pupils that are sharply constricted or dilated and do not react to light as usual
- hallucinations, delusions, the person does not understand where they are
- repeated vomiting, high fever, heavy sweating, or dry, hot skin
- poor coordination, slurred speech, falls, and injuries
If life is at risk — loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Helpline for children and young people: 150.
Why Intoxication Is Dangerous and What Determines Its Severity
Psychoactive substances act on the central nervous system, the heart, and the blood vessels. Some depress the respiratory center, while others sharply raise blood pressure and body temperature and cause heart rhythm disturbances and psychosis. Severity does not depend on the amount alone: an unknown composition, combining the substance with alcohol or medications, a break in use, dehydration in hot weather, or hypothermia in winter are all dangerous.
Often the person does not know exactly what they took. That is why the physician relies on the symptoms rather than on what they are told. Teenagers and people with heart disease, epilepsy, or diabetes are especially vulnerable. Even after the acute state has passed, the condition can worsen again a few hours later, so monitoring is important. Repeated episodes of intoxication are a reason to discuss addiction treatment with a physician.
How Care for Drug Intoxication Works
When you call, the physician asks the key questions over the phone: is the person conscious, how are they breathing, are there seizures, what was taken, and when. If there is a threat to life, they will tell you to call 103. If not, a team is dispatched; within the city it usually takes 40–90 minutes. On site: an examination, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, blood sugar, and an IV drip with solutions and symptom-relieving medications. While the physician is on the way, lay the person on their side and do not leave them alone.
The patient cannot be left at home if consciousness is depressed, if there are breathing or heart rhythm problems, seizures, high fever, or severe psychosis with aggression, if mixed poisoning is suspected, or if the patient is pregnant or a child. In those cases, hospitalization is needed, and if there is a threat to life, call an ambulance at 103 or 112. Do not give the person medications, coffee, or alcohol, and do not try to sober them up with cold water, as this can make their condition worse.
How we help
Assessment of vital functions
The first thing the physician does is check consciousness, breathing, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood sugar. This shows how dangerous the condition is and whether care can continue on site. An ECG is recorded if needed. If the readings are alarming, the physician arranges emergency hospitalization.
Detox therapy
An IV drip with solutions replaces lost fluids, speeds up the elimination of toxins, and normalizes electrolytes. The physician adds vitamins, liver-protecting agents, and anti-nausea medications. The composition is tailored to each patient, taking into account blood pressure, pulse, and co-occurring illnesses rather than following a template, and it is changed during the infusion if the readings shift.
Managing agitation and psychotic symptoms
In cases of severe agitation, panic, or hallucinations, the physician may use calming medications from the tranquilizer group or, when indicated, antipsychotics, but only after an examination and taking into account the risk of respiratory depression. The goal is to relieve the acute state safely, not to put the person to sleep at any cost, so the physician stays with the patient after giving the medication.
Monitoring and the next step
After stabilization, monitoring is needed for several more hours, because the condition can worsen again. The physician leaves clear instructions for the relatives and arranges a follow-up visit. If intoxication keeps happening, we offer a consultation with an addiction physician about treating the addiction, as well as a separate consultation for the family to discuss the next steps.
How treatment works
- 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.
Myths and facts
MythIf the person has fallen asleep, it means it is all over
FactDeep sleep after drug use may actually be depressed consciousness. If the person does not respond to a loud voice and shaking, is breathing slowly, or is making rasping sounds, this is dangerous. Lay them on their side and call 103 immediately.
MythCoffee, a cold shower, or strong tea will help
FactThese methods do not remove toxins and can cause harm: caffeine puts extra strain on the heart, and cold water causes hypothermia and blood vessel spasms. Safe help means rest, the recovery position on the side, monitoring breathing, and calling a doctor.
MythCalling a doctor will inevitably lead to trouble with the police
FactMedical care for poisoning is not grounds for passing information to the police. A private clinic works anonymously, your information is protected by medical confidentiality, and the only exceptions are those provided for by the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Prices: Drug intoxication treatment
| Drug intoxication treatment | 45 000 ₸ |
| Addiction doctor home visit: examination and advice | 20 000 ₸ |
| Repeat IV drip the next day | 20 000 ₸ |
| 24 hours in the inpatient unit | 45 000 ₸ |
| 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”.
Clinic addresses
FAQ
How is intoxication different from withdrawal?
Intoxication is acute poisoning right after use: agitation or sluggishness, a racing heart (tachycardia), hallucinations. Withdrawal is the syndrome that develops when the substance is no longer being taken: pain, insomnia, chills. The care for these conditions is different, so it is important to describe to the physician what is happening and since when.
What should I do before the physician arrives?
Do not leave the person alone, and make sure there is fresh air. If they are drowsy, lay them on their side so they do not choke on vomit. Do not give them medications, alcohol, or coffee. Collect any packaging if there is some, and note the time of use. If breathing or consciousness worsens, call 103 immediately.
Can a physician come to a dacha or a suburb?
Yes, Akalam teams travel to Kaskelen, Talgar, Boralday, Otegen Batyr, and the dacha communities in the foothills. Travel time there is longer than within the city, so if there is a threat to life, call 103 first, and use a private physician for further monitoring and treatment.
How long does care at home take?
A visit usually lasts from an hour and a half to three hours: an examination, an IV drip, and monitoring until the person is stable. If the condition does not improve or warning signs appear, the physician recommends hospitalization. A follow-up visit is arranged if needed.
Do I need to tell the physician exactly what was taken?
Yes, if you know. This information helps the physician choose safe medications and avoid dangerous interactions. The physician is obliged to keep it confidential. If the substance is unknown, it is also important to say so: care is then based on the symptoms, with a more cautious approach.
What should we do if this is not the first time?
Repeated episodes of intoxication point to a risk of addiction. After stabilization, discuss an assessment and treatment options with the physician. Relatives can come to a separate consultation: the physician will suggest how to start the conversation and how to motivate the person to get treatment.
Sources and review
Prepared by the Akalam medical editorial team based on:
- 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
This information is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Editorial policy