She noted that in the first three quarters of 2025, only 209 requests from minors were registered.
According to Sagymbaeva, the presence of a department in the psychiatric hospital creates an additional barrier. Even if a teenager decides to seek help, many parents experience fear of potential consequences. “They fear that their child will be labeled as 'sick' and placed on record, which could ruin their future,” she explained. As a result, many prefer to seek other ways to solve the problem or completely refuse to seek help. “Stigma is a serious obstacle. We cannot provide assistance to children without the consent of their legal representatives, except in cases where there is a threat to life,” she added.
Discussion Topics The youngest patient is 11 years old. On the issue of drug addiction in Kyrgyzstan
When asked how many teenagers do not seek help, Tinatin Sagymbaeva found it difficult to provide a specific answer. “Private rehabilitation centers do not keep such statistics, and their number is often unknown, as not all of them are registered with the Ministry of Health,” she explained. In her opinion, many of these institutions may operate under the guise of educational or social organizations. Some claim that they do not work with minors, although they actually provide services to them. “Although 200-300 people may seem like a small number for the entire country, it is only a small part of the real picture,” the specialist noted.
Kanybek Usenov, head of the prevention department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' drug control service, added that as of January 1, 2025, there were 6,600 drug-dependent individuals registered at the RCPN.
Sagymbaeva also reported that the RCPN offers the possibility of anonymous treatment, which helps protect patients' rights. “People receiving anonymous treatment do not appear in official statistics,” she emphasized.
