Family Doctor
Nowadays, family doctors and nurses consider it normal to discuss a patient's lifestyle and its impact on health during a visit, as well as to inquire about alcohol and drinking habits. Many family doctors and nurses have undergone special training to assess the risks associated with alcohol consumption, advise patients, and involve a treatment team appropriate for the situation.
A family doctor and nurse can help you assess the risk alcohol poses to your health, using tests and analysis. If necessary, the family doctor can provide advice on how to reduce your alcohol consumption. The family doctor is also the first person to contact if you need to treat milder withdrawal symptoms.
If a patient is diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder, the family doctor initiates treatment. If the patient has developed complications or has mental health disorders, the family doctor refers the person to an alcohol use disorder treatment center.
Treatment Centers
Treatment for alcohol use disorder is available at specialized centers. Specialists at these treatment centers offer comprehensively designed treatment that takes into account the patient's needs and preferences.
The goal of treatment is to reduce or cease alcohol consumption. Information about treatment centers can be obtained from a family doctor, or you can contact them directly.
The service for treating alcohol use disorder is free at these centers, even for people without health insurance. For other healthcare services, health insurance is required or they must be paid for. Patients must pay for medications themselves. This amount is usually significantly less than the money spent on alcohol. You can contact the center from the age of 18. Since the patient must be able to follow the doctor's instructions, patients who are intoxicated are not admitted for treatment. Relatives of patients can also contact the treatment center for advice.
As of 2023, the organization and funding of healthcare services have been transferred to the Health Insurance Fund. More information can be found on the Health Insurance Fund's website: Health Insurance Fund - Prevention of excessive alcohol consumption
For questions, please contact ennetus@tervisekassa.ee.
Treatment Center Contacts
| Hospital/Website | Address | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Estonia Medical Centre Psychiatric Clinic | 1. Use our web form 2. Call the psychiatric polyclinic reception at 6172644; also use the same number to cancel an appointment; |
Paldiski mnt 52 (3rd floor), Tallinn Psychiatric Polyclinic | 617 2644 Mon-Fri 8:30-17:00 |
| North Estonia Medical Centre Outpatient Clinic | 1. Use our web form 2. Call the psychiatric polyclinic reception at 6172644; also use the same number to cancel an appointment; |
Nelgi tee 1, Viimsi alevik, Harju County |
617 2644 Mon-Fri 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Tartu University Hospital Psychiatric Clinic | Appointments can be booked online at https://kliinikum.ee/et/eriarsti-vastuvott#poordumine_eriarsti_vastuvotule and https://epatsient.kliinikum.ee/web/pp/avaleht | Raja 31, Tartu | 731 9100, Mon-Fri 7:30-18:00 |
| Tartu University Hospital Psychiatric Clinic | Appointments can be booked online at https://kliinikum.ee/et/eriarsti-vastuvott#poordumine_eriarsti_vastuvotule and https://epatsient.kliinikum.ee/web/pp/avaleht | Riia 167, Tartu | 731 9100 Mon-Fri 7:30 - 18:00 |
| Pärnu Hospital Psychiatric Clinic | helen.saluri@ph.ee | Ristiku 1 (F/G building, 2nd floor), Pärnu | 555 38 103, Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00 |
| Viljandi Hospital Psychiatric Clinic | alko@vmh.ee | Pärna tee 3, Jämejala village, Viljandi municipality, Viljandi County | 586 65160, Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00 |
| South Estonia Hospital Psychiatric Department | registratuur@leh.ee | South Estonia Hospital, Meegomäe village, Võru municipality, Võru County | 786 8569, Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00 |
| Narva Hospital Outpatient Clinic | jelena.kangas@narvahaigla.ee | Vestervalli 15, Polyclinic 3rd floor | 357 1881 Thursday 10:00-18:00. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 08:00 - 16:00 |
| AJK Clinic | info@ajk-kliinik.ee | Vaksali 17A, Tartu | 574 93960, Mon-Thu 9:00-16:00, Fri 9:00-14:00 |
| Rapla Hospital | kte@raplahaigla.ee | Alu tee 1, Rapla | 489 0748 (Mon-Fri 9:00-15:00) |
| Kuressaare Hospital | kainem.tervem@saarehaigla.ee | Aia 25, Kuressaare | 452 0115, Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00 |
| Valga Hospital | info@valgahaigla.ee |
Peetri tn 2, Valga |
7665206, Mon-Fri 8:30-16:00 |
| MPPK | To register for an appointment, call 6620680. To change or cancel an appointment, send an email to info@mppk.ee | Kotka 12, Tallinn | 6620680 Mon-Thu 9:00-18:00 and Fri 9:00-17:00 |
In addition to treatment centers, there are other options for help.
Providers of Psychiatric Aid
You can also contact providers of psychiatric aid who do not work in alcohol use disorder treatment centers. You should first ensure that the service provider has a contract with the Health Insurance Fund; without a contract, the service is chargeable.
Binge Drinking Interruption and Detoxification Treatment Services
Detoxification treatment is intended for people who have consumed alcohol for a long time or in large quantities and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop. Since the patient must be able to follow the doctor's instructions, intoxicated individuals are not admitted for treatment. Some service providers also offer help in interrupting binge drinking for those who cannot break out of the drinking cycle themselves. This service is chargeable and is offered, for example, under the names of drip infusion therapy or detoxification therapy.
It should be noted that detoxification treatment alone, without relapse prevention therapy, does not change people's drinking behavior; it is a short-term solution for those who are not ready to start treatment to change their drinking behavior.
If a person in a state of withdrawal experiences seizures, has entered a state of psychosis or delirium, they may be a danger to themselves and others. In this case, an ambulance must be called immediately at 112.
This page lists only those services that are included in the list of healthcare services.
Also read about modern principles of alcohol use disorder treatment and see when to seek specialist help!
Mental Health First Aid
Life Line: 6558 088 (Estonian), 655 5688 (Russian) (daily 19-07)
Psychological Crisis Aid Phone: 6314300 (Mon-Thu 15-19, Fri 15-18)
Trust Line: 126 (Estonian), 127 (Russian) (daily 19-23)
Psychiatric Clinic Emergency Room in Tallinn: 6172 650 (24h)
Psychiatric Clinic Emergency Room in Tartu: 731 8764 (24h)
Psychiatric Department Emergency Room in Pärnu: 516 0379 (24h)
Psychiatric Clinic Emergency Room in Viljandi: 435 4255 (24h)
Emergency Medical Department in Narva: 357 1795 (24h)
Emergency Medical Department in Ahtme: 331 1074 (24h)
Ambulance: 112 (24h)