Reviewed byRinat Zhumabekov, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 21 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides it
- A psychiatrist-narcologist; a psychiatrist or psychotherapist joins if needed
- Where
- At the clinic, at the patient’s home, or by video call
- Duration
- 40–60 minutes; a home visit with an IV drip takes 2–3 hours
- Anonymity
- No passport or last name, no entry into the state addiction registry, full medical confidentiality
- When it is urgent
- Delirium, seizures, psychosis, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- A medical opinion on your condition, recommendations for testing, and a personalized treatment plan
What you should know
A consultation with a narcologist is the first and essential stage of any addiction treatment. Its goals, point by point: to establish whether there is an addiction or rather harmful use, determine the stage, identify complications, and choose a safe course of action. The anonymous format means you can come without a passport or full personal details, and information about the visit stays within the clinic and is protected by medical confidentiality as established by the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At Narcology 24, anonymous consultations are available in three formats: a clinic appointment, an addiction specialist’s home visit, and a video call. The choice depends on the person’s condition: for someone on a drinking binge, it is safer for the doctor to come to them, while an online format is often enough for an initial conversation about the problem. An anonymous addiction consultation in Ust-Kamenogorsk is available around the clock, including nights, weekends, and public holidays, and follow-up appointments at Narcology 24 can be held in whichever format suits the patient best.
Reasons to See an Addiction Specialist
- you gradually need more alcohol or more of a substance to get the same effect
- the morning after drinking or using, you have shaking, sweating, anxiety, and an urge for a “hair of the dog” drink
- you lose control: you planned to have a little, but the drinking or use stretches over days
- you have memory blackouts about what happened while intoxicated
- you keep drinking or using despite problems with your health, work, or family
- your own attempts to stop end in relapse within the first days or weeks
- people close to you notice changes in your personality, irritability, and secretiveness
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 an Addiction Specialist Consultation Includes
What the appointment covers, point by point: 1) taking a history — which substances, for how long, in what amounts, whether there were breaks and previous treatment; 2) assessing the criteria for dependence according to ICD-10 — strong craving, loss of control, withdrawal syndrome, increased tolerance, narrowing of interests, continued use despite harm; 3) a physical examination — blood pressure, pulse, neurological status, signs of liver damage; 4) assessing mental state and suicide risk.
Based on the results, the doctor formulates a conclusion and explains it in plain language. Recommendations follow: which tests to take, whether detox is needed, which type of treatment is suitable — outpatient, day program, or inpatient — and whether a consultation with a psychiatrist or cardiologist is required. The patient receives a written plan with stages and approximate timelines, and makes the decision to start treatment on their own.
How the Appointment Works: At the Clinic, at Home, or by Video
How to get help: 1) call or send a message — the coordinator asks about the person’s condition, address, and preferred format; 2) you can have a short video conversation with an addiction specialist in Ust-Kamenogorsk in advance so the doctor knows what to bring on the visit; 3) the appointment or home visit takes place at the agreed time; 4) conversation and examination, with rapid tests if needed; 5) conclusion and plan; 6) if indicated, treatment starts during the same visit — for example, an IV drip for withdrawal syndrome.
A home consultation is not enough and inpatient care is needed if the person has had seizures or alcohol withdrawal delirium in the past, has serious heart or liver disease, decompensated diabetes, is pregnant, or has severe intoxication with depressed consciousness. In case of delusions, hallucinations, aggression, overdose, or suicidal thoughts, call 103 or 112 without waiting for a scheduled appointment. Hospital admission in Ust-Kamenogorsk is arranged on the day you reach out.
How we help
Clinical interview and diagnosis
The core of the consultation is a detailed conversation based on the ICD-10 criteria for dependence syndrome. The doctor distinguishes harmful use from addiction and assesses the stage and severity. This matters, because the course of action and the scope of care depend on the diagnosis. Validated questionnaires are used for objectivity, and additional tests are ordered if there is any doubt.
Physical examination
Blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and oxygen saturation are measured; the doctor checks the skin, the whites of the eyes, liver size, and neurological signs — tremor, coordination, and reflexes. The examination helps identify complications of substance use and contraindications to certain treatment methods, for example alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries) or some groups of medications.
Rapid testing
When indicated and with the patient’s consent, rapid tests are performed: a breathalyzer and urine test strips for the main groups of psychoactive substances. The results are used only for medical purposes — to choose the course of treatment and check that prescriptions are safe — and are not shared with third parties. Refusing a test does not take away your right to a consultation.
Motivational counseling
Part of the appointment is devoted to motivation: the doctor helps the person weigh the consequences of substance use against the benefits of sobriety, without applying pressure. Motivational interviewing is recommended by international guidelines and increases the likelihood that a person will start and continue treatment, especially if they previously doubted they needed it.
Myths and facts
MythAfter seeing an addiction specialist, you will definitely be put on the registry
FactWith paid anonymous care, your information is not passed on for entry into the state addiction registry. The Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System” protects medical confidentiality; disclosure without the patient’s consent is possible only in cases expressly specified by law, for example at the request of a court.
MythOnly people who drink every day need an addiction specialist
FactAddiction is defined not by frequency but by loss of control, craving, and harm to health. Binge drinking once every few weeks can also meet the criteria for dependence syndrome. An early consultation makes it possible to step in before serious complications develop.
MythA consultation is just a lecture about the dangers of alcohol
FactA modern appointment is built as a medical assessment and a joint discussion of the plan, without moralizing. The doctor asks questions, explains the examination results, and offers options for care, while the patient makes the decision.
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 Ust-Kamenogorsk
| Online addiction doctor consultation | 9 000 ₸ |
| In-person addiction doctor consultation | 11 000 ₸ |
| Family consultation | 11 000 ₸ |
| 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
“Confidential addiction doctor consultation” in Ust-Kamenogorsk is available 24/7, including weekends. Home visits: all city districts and nearby settlements. For appointments, Narcology 24 has two branches: 131 Kazakhstan St., Ust-Kamenogorsk and 102 Utepova St., Ust-Kamenogorsk. If you live elsewhere in East Kazakhstan Region, call us and we'll advise the fastest way to get help.
Confidential and private
in Ust-Kamenogorsk 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
Do I need to bring a passport to an anonymous consultation?
No. With anonymous care, no documents are required — you can give just your first name. A pseudonymous identifier is enough to sign a contract for paid services. If you need an official document, such as a medical certificate, personal details will be required — this is discussed separately.
Can an addiction specialist report me to my employer or the police?
No, information about the appointment is protected by medical confidentiality. The law allows disclosure without the patient’s consent only in strictly defined cases, for example at the request of investigative authorities or a court in connection with an investigation. Your employer and relatives do not receive such information without your consent.
How much does a consultation cost and how long does it take?
The first appointment takes 40–60 minutes. If the consultation takes place at home and an IV drip is given at the same time, the visit lasts 2–3 hours. The cost depends on the format — at the clinic, a home visit, or online — and can be confirmed with the coordinator when booking.
Can I come to a consultation while intoxicated?
It is better to come to a clinic appointment sober so the doctor can assess your condition objectively. If the person is on a binge and cannot stop drinking, it is more appropriate to call an addiction specialist to the home: the doctor will assess the condition and, if indicated, start detox.
What should I bring to the appointment?
A list of the medications you take, hospital discharge summaries, and test results if you have them. It helps to have someone close to you present at the appointment — they can fill in the picture. Identity documents are not needed for an anonymous consultation.
Do I have to start treatment right after the consultation?
No. A consultation does not commit you to treatment: the doctor gives a conclusion and recommendations, and the decision remains with the patient. The exception is life-threatening conditions: in that case, the doctor strongly recommends emergency care and calls an ambulance if necessary.
Where do doctors visit in Ust-Kamenogorsk and where are the branches?
Home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements, 24/7. Appointments at two branches: 131 Kazakhstan St., Ust-Kamenogorsk and 102 Utepova St., Ust-Kamenogorsk. Phone in Ust-Kamenogorsk: +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
