Addiction in teenagers in Saryagash

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

Key facts

Who provides it

A psychiatrist-narcologist and a psychotherapist who works with teenagers and families; a psychiatrist when indicated

Where

At the clinic, online for parents and the teenager; inpatient care if needed

Duration

Initial assessment 1–2 meetings, psychotherapy course from 8–12 weeks, follow-up support up to a year

Anonymity

No registry entry; information is not shared with the school without the legal guardians’ consent

When it is urgent

Poisoning, loss of consciousness, seizures, psychosis, suicidal thoughts — 103 or 112; helpline 150

Outcome

Stopping substance use, treating co-occurring disorders, and restoring family relationships

What you should know

Adolescence is a period of active brain maturation, especially of the frontal lobes, which are responsible for impulse control and weighing consequences. Psychoactive substances disrupt this process, so the earlier substance use begins, the higher the risk of developing an addiction in adulthood. In addition, substance use in teenagers often co-occurs with depression, anxiety, ADHD, or traumatic experiences, and the consequences affect school, relationships, and future careers.

At Narcology 24, help for teenagers is family-based: specialists work with the teenager and the parents at the same time. A first consultation for parents is available online and without the child present. Medical care for minors in Saryagash is provided with the consent of legal guardians in the manner established by the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Children and young people in crisis can also get help from the free helpline 150.

Warning Signs Parents Should Watch For

• a sudden change of friends, secretiveness, lying about where and with whom they spend time
• falling grades, skipping school, losing interest in former hobbies
• sharp mood swings, outbursts of aggression, apathy, or insomnia
• dilated or constricted pupils, red eyes, the smell of alcohol or smoke
• money and belongings disappearing from home, unexplained purchases
• finding unfamiliar pills, small bags, or smoking paraphernalia
• changes in appetite and weight, frequent “colds,” sluggishness or agitation

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 Teenagers Start Using Substances

Risk factors, point by point: 1) the age-related tendency to seek new sensations and take risks; 2) peer influence and the desire to belong to a group; 3) family factors — conflict, parents’ alcohol or drug use, too little supervision or, conversely, overly strict control; 4) anxiety, depression, ADHD, or traumatic experiences; 5) the availability of substances, including sales over the internet; 6) hereditary predisposition.

Protective factors include warm, trusting family relationships, clear and consistent rules, engagement in school, sports, and creative activities, and the ability to cope with stress. The specialists’ task is to reduce the influence of risk factors and strengthen protective ones. It is important to remember that first use does not always mean addiction: an early consultation in Saryagash helps you understand what is going on and step in before a lasting problem develops.

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 Saryagash

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

Where to get help

In saryagash you can get help at home, at one of our two branches (12 Abaya St., Saryagash, 173 Seyfullina St., office 24, Saryagash) 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