Kazakhstan's addiction crisis deepens as 108,000 battle substance and gambling disorders
Field Session of Mazhilis Committee Addresses Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Gambling Addictions
A field session of the Mazhilis Committee on Social and Cultural Development examined issues related to the treatment of drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions. The discussion, chaired by committee head Askhat Aymagambetov, took place at Astana's City Mental Health Center, reports Liter.kz.
In her presentation, Mazhilis deputy Aina Musralimimova revealed that, as of early 2026, over 108,000 people with mental and behavioral disorders linked to psychoactive substance use were under active monitoring. Of these, around 18,000 were drug-dependent, while more than 90,000 suffered from alcoholism. Meanwhile, preliminary estimates suggest that up to 450,000 citizens may exhibit signs of gambling addiction—a figure experts believe significantly understates the true scale of the problem.
"Yet today, the core issue is not just the scale but the effectiveness of treatment. Between 70% and 80% of patients with addictions relapse within the first year. We must honestly admit that Kazakhstan's response system remains fragmented and reactive. In practice, individuals leave inpatient care only to return to the same environment—without support, employment, or follow-up," Musralimimova stated.
She proposed transitioning to a comprehensive "continuum of care" model, integrating prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration. Shifting the focus from punitive oversight to rehabilitation, she argued, would require expanding infrastructure—including mandatory licensing and oversight of treatment centers—and implementing long-term patient support systems after discharge.
A separate set of proposals targeted gambling addiction, which the deputy urged be recognized as a priority social threat. She called for stricter regulations alongside broader access to specialized care.
Alibek Kenispayev, deputy chair of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Administrative Police Committee, noted that efforts to combat illegal gambling include operational measures and online monitoring. Administrative penalties are being imposed on individuals for participating in unauthorized gambling or accepting bets without proper authorization. To date, over 2,400 online casinos have been blocked.
Additionally, law enforcement agencies are conducting systematic prevention work to curb offenses tied to alcohol and drug dependence. According to Kenispayev, authorities have intervened in 33,000 cases of public alcohol consumption and issued bans on drinking to 11,000 individuals.
At the same time, addressing the issue requires a comprehensive approach. The problem of timely placement for alcohol- and drug-dependent individuals remains unresolved. According to Deputy Health Minister Aliya Rustemova, the country currently has only 47 temporary adaptation and detoxification centers (TADCs), which is clearly insufficient. Both law enforcement officers and medical professionals note the need to open such facilities in every city and district.
Another persistent challenge is the mandatory treatment of chronic drug addicts and alcoholics. As the deputy minister reported, the current reimbursement rate for treating one patient does not cover actual costs. The situation is further complicated by varying comprehensive tariffs across regions.
For its part, the Ministry of Internal Affairs considers it advisable to implement a one-stop-shop principle to streamline this work. Specifically, it proposes establishing specialized medical commissions within healthcare facilities, with meetings held two to four times a month on designated days. Meanwhile, police departments are prepared to ensure the delivery of individuals suffering from alcoholism and to guarantee the safety of medical personnel.
During the session, lawmakers raised questions about the number and condition of pediatric units for drug-dependent patients, statistics on minors with various forms of addiction—including substance abuse—as well as the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, the training of addiction specialists, and other related issues. They also discussed with representatives of relevant government agencies and experts the challenges of registering citizens with drug and alcohol dependencies, introducing mandatory medical examinations for them, and implementing control mechanisms and enforcement practices.
In closing the meeting, Ashat Aimagambetov emphasized the need to develop a modern addiction treatment system in Kazakhstan. Among the priority measures, he highlighted updating treatment protocols in line with the ICD-11 classification and international standards, as well as establishing a uniform national tariff for treating dependent individuals.
He also stressed the need for special attention to gambling addiction, advocating for its recognition as a separate category, the creation of hotlines, and a revision of clinical protocols, as current approaches in this area remain ineffective.
Additionally, the committee chairman noted that the existing funding system—tied to the number of registered patients—fails to deliver adequate results and requires a shift toward an outcome-based model. He also underscored the necessity of regulating private rehabilitation centers and developing unified operational standards for them.
