Reviewed byRinat Zhumabekov, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 21 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist-addiction specialist (narcologist) with experience in mobile emergency care
- Where
- An apartment, private house or hotel in Almaty and the suburbs — Kaskelen, Talgar, Konaev
- Duration
- A visit with an examination and IV drip takes 2–3 hours on average
- Anonymity
- No ID required if you prefer, no state dispensary registry, medical confidentiality
- When it is urgent
- Loss of consciousness, seizures, difficulty breathing, delusions — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- A stabilized condition, a treatment plan and, if needed, transfer to an inpatient unit
What you should know
Calling an addiction doctor to your home does not always mean an IV drip. Sometimes, when I arrive at an apartment in the Bostandyk district at night, I see that the person first and foremost needs an assessment: is their condition dangerous, are there signs of developing delirium, is it safe to leave them at home. Sometimes the family simply does not understand what is happening and needs a doctor who will calmly explain what to do today and tomorrow. So the first thing we do is figure things out, rather than “hook up a drip from the price list.”
A typical night for the on-call team: a call at midnight from the Turksib district, then one from the Medeu district, and toward morning a private house in Talgar. The dispatcher asks who needs help, how old they are, what happened and whether there are dangerous symptoms, and says right away if the situation calls for 103 rather than a house call. If it is within our capabilities, the doctor leaves with a full kit: IV solutions, infusion sets, a blood pressure monitor, a pulse oximeter, a glucose meter and emergency medications.
Reasons to Call an Addiction Doctor to Your Home
- several days of continuous drinking and inability to stop on your own
- a severe hangover with vomiting, tremor and marked weakness
- withdrawal syndrome after stopping alcohol or drugs
- insomnia, anxiety and irritability after stopping use
- poisoning by alcohol or an unknown substance while the person is still conscious
- someone needs to talk to the person and motivate them to get treatment
- relatives need advice on how to act going forward
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. Phone advice is free. For seizures, confusion or hallucinations call 103 or 112.
Why It Is Better to Call a Doctor Than to Cope on Your Own
At home there is usually a random assortment of medicines: something for blood pressure, something “calming,” some headache pills. Combined with alcohol, some of them suppress breathing or overload the liver. More than once I have come to people whose relatives, with the best of intentions, gave them sleeping pills in the middle of a binge. A doctor evaluates what has already been taken and chooses treatment so as not to cause harm.
The second reason is risk assessment. Over the phone it is impossible to tell whether this is ordinary withdrawal or the onset of delirium, whether there are signs of heart damage, pancreatitis or a head injury after a fall. The examination takes a few minutes, but it is what decides whether the person stays home or needs inpatient care. For the family, it is also a chance to breathe out: someone has arrived who takes responsibility for the medical decisions.
How an Addiction Doctor House Call Works: What Happens After You Call
Step one is a call to the dispatcher, gathering information and agreeing on a time. If you wish, a short video call with the doctor is possible so they can see the patient and prepare. Step two is the arrival, introductions, the examination and measuring vital signs. Step three is a conversation with the patient and obtaining their consent. Step four is treatment: an IV drip, symptomatic medications as prescribed, and observation. Step five is recommendations for the family for the next 24 hours and a follow-up call in the morning.
A house call is not appropriate when there is a threat to life: loss of consciousness, seizures, marked shortness of breath, chest pain, signs of stroke, vomiting blood, a serious injury, or psychosis with aggression or suicidal thoughts. In such cases, call 103 or 112 right away. If the situation is borderline, the doctor on site decides on hospitalization in an inpatient unit where round-the-clock monitoring is available.
How we help
Emergency assessment
I start by checking consciousness, breathing, skin, pupils and coordination. I measure blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation and, if necessary, blood sugar. I ask how much was drunk, when the last drink was, and about chronic illnesses. This is not a formality: these minutes determine what kind of help is safe right now and where it is best provided.
On-site detoxification
If there are no contraindications, I start an IV drip with detoxification solutions, B vitamins and, when indicated, liver-protecting medications, anti-nausea drugs and medications to normalize sleep. Everything is given under observation; the rate and volume are adjusted according to blood pressure and pulse. While the infusion runs, we calmly talk about what happens next.
Motivational conversation
Often a person agrees to an IV drip but does not want to hear about addiction treatment. I do not lecture: we discuss what exactly is getting in the way of their life, how the binges have affected their work and family, and what they themselves would like to change. Such a conversation, based on the principles of motivational interviewing, often becomes the first step toward long-term help.
Plan after the visit
At the end of the visit, I leave the family a clear plan: fluids and food, what to do if things get worse, when to call us and when to call 103. I suggest further steps — a repeat house call, a consultation at the clinic, inpatient care, addiction psychotherapy, work with relatives. The decision always remains with the patient. We are there at every stage.
Myths and facts
MythAn addiction doctor house call always means being put on the registry
FactNo. We work on a paid, anonymous basis, and information about the call is protected by medical confidentiality. No state dispensary registration is made for anonymous treatment, and information can be disclosed only in cases expressly provided for by the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
MythThe doctor will come and take the person to hospital against their will
FactA private clinic cannot hospitalize anyone by force. We treat only with consent. In Kazakhstan, involuntary treatment can be ordered only by a court in the manner established by law.
MythYou should only call an addiction doctor when things are “really bad”
FactThe sooner a doctor examines the person, the simpler and safer the help. In the early stages of withdrawal, one visit is often enough, while a neglected condition may require inpatient care. Do not wait for things to get worse.
How a home visit works
- Call or message usThe dispatcher answers 24/7 and in 3–5 minutes checks the person's condition, age, how long the drinking or use has lasted, chronic conditions and the address. No surname needed.
- The doctor sets offAn addiction doctor or psychiatrist comes with equipment and medication. Travel time depends on the district — usually within an hour. If inpatient care or an ambulance is needed, we'll say so straight away.
- Examination and treatmentBlood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood sugar if needed and a neurological check. Then an IV drip or other treatment as indicated, 1–3 hours.
- A plan for the next daysAdvice for the family on what to do overnight and tomorrow, phone follow-up and a repeat visit if needed.
- Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.
Prices in Almaty
| Home visit and examination | 15 000 ₸ |
| IV drip at home (standard) | 30 000 ₸ |
| IV drip at home (extended) | 45 000 ₸ |
| Phone advice | free |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
Narcology 24 in Almaty: our duty team makes home visits day and night, usually within an hour (all city districts and nearby settlements). Two branches for appointments and procedures — 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. When indicated, we arrange admission and transport.
Confidential and private
Information about your request, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We do not share it with employers, schools, the police or neighbours; the only exceptions are those expressly set by law. A first name is enough to call us, and paid confidential treatment does not mean a registry entry.
Questions and answers
How long does the doctor stay with the patient?
On average 2–3 hours: the examination, the IV drip, observation afterward and a conversation with the family. If the condition is more complicated, the doctor stays longer or arranges transfer to an inpatient unit. We do not leave until we are sure the person is stable. Before leaving, we always give you a contact number.
Do you travel outside Almaty?
Yes, we go to the nearby suburbs — Kaskelen, Talgar, Otegen Batyr, Konaev and the villages along the way. Travel time is longer than within the city, and the dispatcher tells you honestly as soon as you call. The farther you are from the city, the more important it is to call early instead of putting it off until nighttime.
Can I call an addiction doctor for a teenager?
Yes, but a minor is treated with the consent of their legal guardian. If the teenager is in an acute condition or there is a risk to life, call 103 first. Children and young people can also use the 150 helpline. We have a separate approach to treating adolescents that involves the family.
Can we have a video consultation first?
Yes. A Narcology 24 doctor can assess the situation by video, talk with relatives and decide whether a house call, inpatient care or just recommendations are needed. But an IV drip, a physical examination and measuring vital signs cannot be replaced by video. Video is convenient as a first step, especially if the person is still hesitant.
What if the person is aggressive?
Tell the dispatcher about this in advance. If there is a threat to others or to the person themselves, call 102 or 112. The doctor comes when the situation is safe for everyone and tries to defuse tension through conversation. We never persuade anyone by force — only through conversation and consent.
Do I need a passport?
Documents are not required for anonymous treatment. It is enough to give whatever name you are comfortable with. A contract and consent to medical intervention are signed, but the information is not passed on to an employer or a local clinic. You may sign under the name you have chosen; this is legal.
Where do doctors visit in Almaty and where are the branches?
Home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements, 24/7. Appointments at two branches: 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. Phone in Almaty: +7 (700) 309-29-88.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Narcology 24 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) guidelines on alcohol and drug misuse and mental health conditions
- WHO recommendations on the treatment of substance use disorders
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
