Reviewed byNurlan Isayev, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 10 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides it
- A psychiatrist-narcologist (addiction medicine physician) with a valid specialist certificate
- Where
- By video call from a phone or computer, from home or from any country
- Duration
- 30–60 minutes; follow-up support appointments take 20–30 minutes each
- Anonymity
- You may withhold your last name and keep the camera off while getting acquainted; no registry entry
- When it is urgent
- Confusion, seizures, hallucinations, chest pain, vomiting blood — call 103 or 112 right away
- Outcome
- Assessment of your condition, recommendations on the type of care, and a treatment and preparation plan
What you should know
An online consultation with a narcologist is a form of remote medical care provided for under the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The doctor sees and hears the patient, asks structured questions, and assesses speech, appearance, orientation, and emotional state. At the end of the appointment, the person gets a clear answer: what is going on, how dangerous it is, and what kind of help is needed — outpatient treatment, a home visit, or inpatient care.
At Narcology 24, the online appointment is used as a first step, not as a substitute for in-person treatment. Over video, the doctor can work through the situation, assess the risk of withdrawal, prepare for an addiction specialist’s home visit or hospital admission, and counsel the family. Medical tests, IV drips, alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries), and prescribing medications that require a physical examination are done in person only. This approach makes it possible to start helping in Karatau within minutes of first contact, even at night and on weekends.
When to Book an Online Addiction Consultation
- drinking or drug use has become regular, and attempts to cut down keep failing
- you need to know whether it is safe to stop drinking or using on your own after several days
- a loved one refuses an in-person visit but agrees to talk to a doctor over video
- after discharge from the hospital you need ongoing support and sobriety monitoring
- you are in another city or abroad and want a consultation in Russian
- you are unsure whether you need an addiction specialist’s home visit or outpatient treatment is enough
- you want a second opinion on an addiction treatment plan that has already been prescribed
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.
What Can and Cannot Be Done Over Video
Over a video call, the doctor can: take a history of substance use and previous treatment attempts; assess the risk of withdrawal syndrome using scales accepted in clinical practice; identify signs of co-occurring mental disorders; explain to relatives how to behave; draw up a treatment plan; and prepare the patient for a home visit or hospital admission. Online sessions are also a convenient format for supportive follow-up meetings after detox is completed.
Over video, it is not possible to: measure blood pressure or oxygen saturation, or perform an ECG; carry out detox; assess a person who is so intoxicated that they cannot answer questions; or perform alcohol “coding” or an opioid blockade. If a physical examination, lab tests, or IV therapy are needed to make a decision, the doctor says so directly and offers in-person care — an addiction specialist’s home visit or inpatient treatment in Karatau.
How an Online Addiction Consultation Works
Steps of the appointment: 1) you request a consultation by phone or messenger and choose a convenient time — as early as the next available hour; 2) a coordinator asks a few short questions about age and current condition to rule out an emergency; 3) a video call with the doctor: conversation, questionnaires, and risk assessment; 4) recommendations and a written plan — which tests to take and which type of care to choose; 5) if needed, a same-day booking for an addiction specialist’s home visit in Karatau or hospital admission.
The online format is not suitable if the person is severely intoxicated or has confusion, delusions, hallucinations, seizures, suicidal thoughts, chest pain, or difficulty breathing. In such cases, the consultation is stopped and the doctor asks you to call an ambulance immediately at 103 or 112. Other limitations include the lack of a stable connection or of a place to talk privately without others present.
How we help
Initial diagnostic interview
The doctor clarifies which substances are used, how often and in what amounts, whether there have been binges, seizures, or psychotic episodes, and whether there are chronic illnesses and current medications. Structured questionnaires used in international practice are applied (for example, the AUDIT test for alcohol). The result is a preliminary conclusion — a final diagnosis is made only after an in-person examination.
Assessing the risk of withdrawal
The doctor separately assesses how dangerous it is to stop drinking or using without medical supervision. Factors considered include the length of the binge, previous episodes of delirium and seizures, age, and cardiovascular disease. If the risk is high, the recommendation is medically supervised detox — at home with an IV drip or in the hospital — rather than stopping on your own.
Consultation for relatives
Family members can reach out without the person being present. The doctor explains how to recognize dangerous symptoms, how to talk about treatment without pressure or blame, and what not to do — for example, not to give any medications without a doctor’s prescription. The conversation also covers how to prepare a motivational talk and which type of care to suggest.
Online follow-up support after treatment
After detox, inpatient care, or alcohol “coding,” regular video meetings are held to monitor well-being and sleep, work through high-risk situations for relapse, and adjust the plan. Follow-up support lowers the chance of relapse in the first months of sobriety, when it is most likely. The doctor sets the frequency of meetings individually.
Myths and facts
MythAn online consultation is just a chat and achieves nothing
FactA structured conversation with a doctor makes it possible to assess risks, choose a safe type of care, and avoid dangerous mistakes — such as abruptly stopping alcohol when the risk of seizures is high. It is a full-fledged stage of medical care, even though it does not replace in-person treatment.
MythOver video, the doctor will immediately prescribe pills for addiction
FactMedications for addiction and withdrawal are prescribed after an in-person examination and testing. Over video, the doctor gives recommendations and a plan, while drug therapy is selected in person so that contraindications can be taken into account.
MythAn online appointment is not anonymous — everything ends up in a database
FactA remote consultation is protected by doctor–patient confidentiality just like an in-person visit. You can reach out without giving your last name, and information about the appointment is not shared with your employer or relatives without your consent, except in cases expressly provided for by law.
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 Karatau
| Online addiction doctor consultation | 10 000 ₸ |
| In-person addiction doctor consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| Family consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| 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 karatau you can get help at home, at one of our two branches (96 Tauelsizdik St., Karatau, 155 Satpaeva St., Karatau) 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
in Karatau 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
Can I get an online addiction consultation if I live abroad?
Yes. A video call does not depend on the country, and the consultation is conducted in Russian. The doctor will assess the situation and give recommendations, but in-person procedures — IV drips, tests, alcohol “coding” — will need to be done at a medical facility where you are located or after you arrive.
Do I have to turn on the camera and give my real name?
While getting acquainted, you do not have to give your last name and can start the conversation without video. However, for a full assessment, it is important for the doctor to see the patient: speech, facial expressions, and coordination provide significant clinical information. Everything said during the appointment is protected by doctor–patient confidentiality.
Can a relative consult the doctor instead of the patient?
Yes, this is a common reason for an online appointment. The doctor will gather information from the family, assess the risks, and advise on what to do. A diagnosis cannot be made without seeing the patient, but it is possible to work out a plan and prepare the person for a conversation about treatment.
How long does an online addiction consultation last?
The first appointment usually takes 30–60 minutes, depending on how complex the situation is. Follow-up support meetings are shorter — about 20–30 minutes. If it becomes clear during the appointment that emergency care is needed, the consultation ends and you receive instructions on calling an ambulance.
How should I prepare for an online appointment?
A stable internet connection, headphones, and a quiet place where no one else is present. It helps to write down in advance which substances were used and for how long, which medications you are currently taking, and whether you have any chronic illnesses, and to have discharge summaries or test results ready if you have them.
Can I call an addiction specialist to my home right after the online consultation?
Yes. If the doctor believes an IV drip or an examination is needed, a home visit can be arranged the same day. The information collected during the online appointment is passed on to the Narcology 24 visiting doctor, so you will not have to tell your story again from scratch.
Where do doctors visit in Karatau and where are the branches?
Home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements, 24/7. Appointments at two branches: 96 Tauelsizdik St., Karatau and 155 Satpaeva St., Karatau. Phone in Karatau: +7 (700) 309-30-65.
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
