Reviewed byRinat Zhumabekov, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 21 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- The clinic’s psychotherapist and psychologist, with a psychiatrist if needed
- Where
- Consultations at the clinic in Almaty, online by video, support during a home visit
- Duration
- First consultation — 60–90 minutes; course of psychotherapy — from 2–3 months
- Anonymity
- Consultations are anonymous, and information is not shared with anyone, including the person with the addiction
- When it is urgent
- Violence, threats to life, or suicidal thoughts in you or a loved one — call 103, 112, or 102 (police)
- Outcome
- Less anxiety, clear boundaries, an action plan, and a chance to motivate your loved one
What you should know
Told by the on-call doctor of our mobile team. On every night call — whether it is a drinking binge in the Turksib district or an overdose in the Medeu district — there is a second person next to the patient: a wife, a mother, a grown daughter. She opens the door, lists how much he drank, where the bottles are hidden, and what medications he takes. Often she herself has not slept for several days, and her blood pressure is higher than the patient’s. The dispatcher on the call asks about her too: “How are you feeling? Is there anyone with you?”
In the morning, when the patient is already better, I usually ask the relative one question: “And who is going to help you?” Codependency is not a reproach to the family; it is the result of living alongside an illness for a long time. You can go on helping through rescuing, paying debts, and control for years, but this prolongs the addiction and ruins the health of the loved ones themselves. That is why Narcology 24 offers separate help for family members — including online consultations if you live in Kaskelen or Talgar, or simply cannot leave the house.
Signs of Codependency in Family Members
- constant thoughts about whether he is drinking right now, where he is, and what will happen next
- control: checking his phone, pockets, and money, searching for hidden bottles
- covering for him at work and with relatives, lying that “he’s sick”
- paying off debts and the consequences of drinking or drug use, promising yourself it is “the last time”
- giving up your own interests, friends, rest, and treatment for your own illnesses
- guilt, shame, anger, and helplessness, insomnia, headaches
- a conviction that without your control, the family will fall apart
If two or three points apply, it is worth seeing a doctor. Phone advice is free and confidential. If life is at risk, call 103 or 112.
Why Codependency Develops
One person’s addiction changes the whole family. Loved ones live with unpredictability: today he is sober and affectionate, tomorrow there is a binge and a fight. To survive this, protective strategies form — control, rescuing, adapting. Over time they become habitual and stop bringing relief. The person begins to live someone else’s illness rather than their own life, and at the same time unconsciously sustains the addiction by softening its consequences.
The risk of codependency is higher in people who grew up in a family affected by addiction, have experienced violence, or are used to being “responsible for everyone.” Cultural expectations also play a role: “a family must endure,” “what will the relatives say.” International approaches to addiction treatment, including NICE guidelines, note that involving the family and supporting loved ones improves treatment outcomes for the patient as well.
How Help for the Family Works
The first contact often happens during a home visit: the doctor explains what is happening to your loved one, what to expect over the next 24 hours, and when to call 103. Next comes a consultation with a psychotherapist, in person or online. We go through the situation, your fears, what you have already tried, and what works. We draw up a plan: which actions to stop, which boundaries to set, and how to talk to your loved one about treatment. After that, regular weekly sessions follow, and family or group sessions where possible.
Psychotherapy for relatives does not replace treatment for the person with the addiction and does not guarantee that they will agree to treatment right away. If there is physical violence or threats in the family, the first step must be your own safety — 102, 112, or crisis centers. If you have marked symptoms of depression, anxiety, or insomnia yourself, or suicidal thoughts, you need a psychiatrist’s consultation, and in acute danger — 103.
How we help
Individual psychotherapy
The psychotherapist helps you recognize codependent behavior, cope with guilt and anxiety, and turn your attention back to your own life and health. Cognitive behavioral and family systems approaches are used. A course usually takes 8–12 sessions or more, some of which can be held online if you cannot leave the house or live outside the city.
The CRAFT approach
Community Reinforcement and Family Training is a program developed for relatives of people with addiction who refuse treatment. Loved ones learn to reward sober behavior, stop softening the consequences of substance use, and choose the right moment to talk about treatment. Studies show that this approach helps bring a loved one into treatment more often than confrontation does.
Family therapy
When the person with the addiction is already in treatment, joint sessions help rebuild trust, share out responsibilities, and agree on rules. Money, communication with children, and what to do at the first signs of relapse are discussed. Sessions are led by a Narcology 24 psychotherapist who knows the patient’s treatment plan and coordinates it with the family.
Support groups for loved ones
Group work gives you the sense that you are not alone, along with the experience of other families who have been through something similar. The clinic runs psychotherapy groups for relatives, and we also tell you about the mutual support communities for loved ones of people with addiction that exist in Almaty. Group participation can be combined with individual therapy.
Myths and facts
MythIf I love him more and control him harder, he will quit
FactControl and rescuing usually relieve the person of responsibility for the consequences and prolong the addiction. Love matters, but it is more effective to combine it with clear boundaries and support for treatment.
MythHe is the one who needs help, not me
FactLiving alongside addiction causes chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and health problems. Help for relatives is a goal in its own right, and it also increases the chance that your loved one will start treatment.
MythYou have to wait until he “hits rock bottom”
FactWaiting for “rock bottom” is dangerous: it can mean an overdose, an injury, or a lost job. Approaches such as CRAFT make it possible to motivate a person toward treatment earlier, without waiting for a disaster. This is safer.
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
| Initial addiction doctor consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| Inpatient detox (per day) | 35 000 ₸ |
| Psychotherapy course (8 sessions) | 96 000 ₸ |
| 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
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
Can I get help if he doesn’t want treatment?
Yes, and this is one of the main reasons to reach out. A psychotherapist will help you reduce your anxiety, stop enabling the substance use, and prepare for the conversation about treatment. Many people with addiction agree to get help after the family’s behavior changes.
Will my husband find out that I am seeing a psychotherapist?
No, unless you decide to tell him yourself. Consultations are confidential and anonymous, and information is not shared with anyone, including relatives. Medical confidentiality is protected by the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.”
Can I have consultations online?
Yes, consultations for relatives work well by video. This is convenient if you live in the Nauryzbay district, the suburbs, or another city, or cannot leave your children. It is important to find a place where the person with the addiction cannot overhear you, so you can speak freely.
What should I do if he is aggressive?
Your safety comes first. In case of threats or violence, call 102 or 112 and go to a safe place. Do not try to reason with a person who is intoxicated. The psychotherapist will help you draw up a safety plan and tell you where to turn for protection.
How many sessions are needed?
Noticeable relief often comes after a few sessions, but lasting change takes 2–3 months or more of regular work. If your loved one starts treatment, it helps to continue your sessions alongside their rehab so that the family changes together with them.
Do you help children from such families?
Yes, psychologists work with children and teenagers with the involvement of their parents. It is important to explain to children what is happening, without shame or guilt. The 150 helpline for children and young people is available around the clock — you can tell them about it in advance.
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
