Assessment and tests for addiction in Astana

Reviewed byOlga Smirnova, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 27 years · updated 8 Nov 2026

Key facts

Who provides it

An addiction doctor, a nurse, the laboratory service; a general practitioner or cardiologist if indicated

Where

At the clinic or at home in any district of Astana

Duration

Sample collection — 15–30 minutes; results — from a few hours to 3 days

Anonymity

Tests are processed under a code, with no data shared with other organizations

When it is urgent

Jaundice, vomiting blood, chest pain, seizures — call 103 or 112

Outcome

An assessment of health, contraindications, and a safe treatment plan

What you should know

Relatives often see only the behavior: binges, irritability, disappearing money. But behind this are changes in the liver, heart, and nervous system that the person may not even suspect. Testing shows the real picture and gives the family and the doctor a solid basis for decisions. Sometimes it is the lab numbers that become the argument the person is ready to hear — more readily than any persuasion, reproaches, or tears from loved ones.

Before detox, alcohol coding, or inpatient treatment, testing is also needed for safety. The doctor has to know whether there are any contraindications, how the liver and kidneys are working, and what the blood pressure and heart rhythm are. In Astana, with busy work schedules, many people put off a trip to the lab, so Narcology 24 offers home sample collection at a convenient time, including early in the morning before work or late in the evening after a shift.

When the Family Should Insist on Medical Testing

• the person has been drinking or using for a long time but has never had a health check
• a yellowish skin tone, heaviness in the right side, or nausea has appeared
• blood pressure often spikes, and there are episodes of rapid or irregular heartbeat
• you suspect drug use but are not sure
• alcohol coding, a blockade, or inpatient treatment is being planned
• there are chronic illnesses: diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis
• the person has lost weight, eats poorly, and their memory has gotten worse

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 Testing Is Needed and What It Shows

Long-term alcohol use damages the liver, pancreas, heart muscle, and nervous system. Drugs and synthetic stimulants affect the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and mental health. Many changes develop for a long time without obvious complaints. Testing makes it possible to detect them in time and take them into account during treatment — from choosing the solutions for an IV drip to deciding whether home treatment is safe.

Drug screening tests help clarify exactly what the person is using. For the family, this is often a painful moment: confirmation of what they feared. But without this information, the doctor cannot prescribe treatment safely. It is important to understand that a rapid test is a guide, not a final conclusion, and the results should be interpreted by a specialist, not by relatives following the instructions on the package.

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 Astana

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 Astana: 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 — 6 Auezova St., office 37, Astana and 176 Imanova St., Astana. When indicated, we arrange admission and transport.

Confidential and private

in Astana our doctor can come in ordinary clothes in an unmarked car. Treatment documents are given only to the patient. If you need a certificate or sick note, this is discussed separately and only at your request.

Questions and answers