Alcoholism treatment in Almaty

Reviewed byRinat Zhumabekov, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 21 years · updated 8 Nov 2026

Key facts

ICD-10 code

F10.2

Who provides it

Addiction medicine doctors (narcologists), a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist, and nurses from the mobile team and the inpatient unit

Where

At home, in the clinic’s inpatient unit, on an outpatient basis and online

Duration

Detox takes 1–7 days, an inpatient stay lasts from a few days, and maintenance treatment lasts at least 6–12 months

Anonymity

No surname needed if you prefer, no state dispensary registry, full medical confidentiality

When it’s urgent

Seizures, hallucinations, confusion, chest pain, vomiting blood — call 103 or 112

Outcome

Ending the binge, stabilizing health, and a plan for sobriety and relapse prevention

What you should know

For me, alcoholism treatment almost always starts with a call in the middle of the night. The voice on the phone says: “He’s been drinking for ten days, he isn’t eating, he’s shaking in the mornings.” An hour to an hour and a half later I am in the apartment — in Bostandyk district, in a new high-rise in Alatau district, or in a private house in Talgar. I measure blood pressure, check the pupils and the hands, and ask when the last drink was and whether there have ever been seizures. Based on those answers, I decide whether to put in an IV drip at home or take the person to hospital.

But the IV drip is only the first hour of a long journey. By morning the person feels better, and that is exactly when they most often say they can manage on their own from here. My job is to explain that detox relieves the poisoning but does not treat the addiction: the cravings will come back within a few days or weeks. So before I leave, I discuss the next steps with the person and the family: a medical workup, medications to support sobriety, psychotherapy and, if needed, an inpatient stay or rehab.

Signs of Alcohol Dependence

• a strong urge to drink that is hard to control
• the person drinks more, and for longer, than they originally intended
• increasingly larger amounts of alcohol are needed to get the same effect
• in the morning there is tremor, sweating and anxiety that go away after a drink
• hobbies, family and work take a back seat to drinking
• drinking continues despite illness and conflicts
• attempts to quit end in relapse within a few days or weeks

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 Alcoholism Develops

Alcohol dependence syndrome (F10.2 in ICD-10, 6C40.2 in ICD-11) develops through a combination of several factors. These include a hereditary predisposition, individual features of metabolism, the habit of relieving stress with a drink, and family and cultural traditions of frequent drinking. Over time, the brain rewires itself: the dopamine reward system starts demanding alcohol, and without it anxiety, irritability and insomnia set in.

Co-occurring mental health conditions play an important role: depression, anxiety, the aftermath of trauma and insomnia. Many people start drinking to numb them and end up in a vicious circle. That is why treatment cannot come down to a single procedure. International guidelines from NICE and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend combining medical care with psychosocial methods and treatment of co-occurring conditions.

How we help

Myths and facts

How a home visit works

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.

Prices in Almaty

The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.

Where to get help

In almaty you can get help at home, at one of our two branches (84 Zhandosova St., Almaty, 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty) or online if you need a consultation rather than a procedure. The dispatcher answers 24/7 and will tell you straight away which option is safest.

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