Rehab in Turkey: what you should know
Asking for help with alcohol, drugs or your mental health is a difficult step, and you deserve treatment that is safe, private and free of judgement. People come for rehab in Turkey for several reasons: a private room and a full programme cost noticeably less than in the UK, Western Europe or the US; there is usually no waiting list; and some prefer to start recovery away from the people and places linked to their drinking or drug use. Families often make the first enquiry, and that is fine too.
Addiction treatment in Turkey is provided by psychiatrists — doctors who have completed specialist training in psychiatry and are registered with the Ministry of Health — together with psychologists, nurses and social workers. Private hospitals in Istanbul and other cities have psychiatry departments and dedicated addiction units, and some offer non-drug treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Two things matter more than the price. First, withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioids can be dangerous, so detox must be medically supervised. Second, a stay in a rehab center in Turkey is only the beginning: recovery continues at home, and the plan for that should be agreed before you travel. This guide explains costs, programmes, safety, how to choose a clinic and how to stay well afterwards. A consultation request is free and confidential.
All Psychiatry & Addiction treatments
Browse every Psychiatry & Addiction treatment available at our partner hospitals in Turkey, grouped by category.
Addiction Treatment6 treatments
How much does rehab in Turkey cost?
No hospital on our site publishes a fixed price for these treatments yet, because the programme depends on what you use, how much, for how long and on your physical and mental health. The table gives honest approximate ranges; your exact price is confirmed in a written quote after a psychiatrist has reviewed your information.
| Treatment | Turkey (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | United Kingdom | United States | Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential alcohol rehab (28 days) | about €5,000–€12,000 | about £6,000–£20,000 | about $15,000–$50,000 | about €10,000–€25,000 |
| Medically supervised alcohol detox (7–10 days) | about €2,000–€5,000 | about £3,000–£8,000 | about $5,000–$15,000 | about €4,000–€9,000 |
| Drug detox and rehab (28 days) | about €5,000–€14,000 | about £6,000–£20,000 | about $15,000–$50,000 | about €10,000–€25,000 |
| TMS course (20–30 sessions) | about €1,500–€4,000 | about £3,000–£6,000 | about $6,000–$15,000 | about €3,000–€7,000 |
| Psychotherapy or CBT (per session) | about €50–€150 | about £70–£150 | about $100–$250 | about €80–€150 |
Prices outside Turkey are approximate private prices and vary widely. What changes the price: a private or shared room, the length of stay, how much medical care detox needs, treatment of other conditions such as depression or liver disease, the number of individual therapy sessions per week, and whether a family member stays with you.
What a rehab programme includes
A residential programme usually includes an assessment by a psychiatrist, blood tests and a physical examination, detox with medication and round-the-clock nursing when needed, a room and meals, individual and group therapy, family sessions (in person or online), and a written discharge and aftercare plan. Transfers and an interpreter for the medical team are often included. Flights, a companion's hotel, treatment of unrelated medical problems and online follow-up sessions after you go home are often charged separately — ask for the contents in writing, with the name of the hospital and the responsible psychiatrist.
For a quote, it helps to share what you use and how much, when you last drank or used, any previous withdrawal seizures or delirium, your medicines, other physical or mental health conditions, and previous treatment. All of this stays confidential.
Alcohol rehab in Turkey: detox and treatment
Alcohol rehab in Turkey normally starts with an alcohol use assessment and blood tests, followed by a medically supervised detox. After heavy, regular drinking, stopping suddenly can cause tremor, sweating, anxiety, seizures and, rarely, delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening — never stop "cold turkey" on your own if you drink daily. In hospital, withdrawal is managed with medication, fluids and vitamins (thiamine) under a doctor's care.
Detox is not treatment on its own. Alcoholism treatment continues with therapy that looks at why you drink and how to handle cravings and triggers, often cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and group work; some programmes use a 12-step approach. The psychiatrist may also discuss medicines that reduce craving or help you stay sober, which your doctor at home can continue.
Drug rehab, psychiatry and therapy in Turkey
- Drug rehab in Turkey — for opioids, cannabis, cocaine, stimulants or prescription medicines, starting with a full assessment and supervised withdrawal. If you take methadone or another substitution treatment, ask before you travel whether it can be continued: methadone is not routinely available in Turkey.
- TMS — magnetic stimulation of the brain for depression that has not responded to medicines; a course is usually daily sessions on weekdays for four to six weeks. tDCS and neurofeedback are also offered; the evidence for them is more limited.
- Psychotherapy, CBT and schema therapy — for depression, anxiety and addiction. Talking therapy depends on language: choose a therapist who speaks your language fluently rather than working through an interpreter.
- Psychiatry in Turkey — assessment and second opinions for depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other conditions, with a treatment plan you continue at home.
- Autism assessment — a diagnostic assessment by a child psychiatrist and psychologist, with advice on support such as ABA therapy, speech therapy and school support. Autism is not a disease to be cured; be wary of any clinic that promises a cure, for example with stem cells.
Is rehab in Turkey safe? Licensing and regulation
Hospitals in Turkey need a Ministry of Health licence, and those treating international patients need an additional health tourism authorisation; many large private hospitals are accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI). Addiction treatment centres need a separate licence from the Ministry of Health, and detox should take place where a doctor and nurses are present day and night and a general hospital is close by. Your medical information is protected by Turkish data protection law. Remember that buying or using illegal drugs in Turkey is a serious crime; if you bring prescribed medicines, carry the prescription and a doctor's letter.
How to choose a rehab clinic in Turkey
- A licensed hospital or addiction centre with the health tourism authorisation, ideally within a JCI-accredited hospital.
- A named psychiatrist responsible for your care, and medically supervised detox with 24-hour nursing.
- Therapy in your language, with the therapist's qualifications stated.
- A written plan with the programme, length of stay, price and what happens after discharge.
- An aftercare plan agreed with you before admission, including who you contact at home.
Red flags: a "rehab clinic" with no doctors on site, detox without medical supervision, promises of a guaranteed cure or a cure in days, a cure for autism, pressure to pay the full amount in cash before an assessment, and no discharge plan. Compare the hospitals on our site.
How long do you need to stay in Turkey?
| Treatment | Time in Turkey |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric assessment or second opinion | 2–4 days |
| Autism diagnostic assessment | 2–5 days |
| Alcohol detox | 7–10 days |
| Drug detox | 7–14 days, longer for some medicines |
| Residential alcohol or drug rehab | 28 days, sometimes 6–12 weeks |
| TMS course | 4–6 weeks of weekday sessions |
Detox alone, followed straight away by a flight home, carries a high risk of relapse; most psychiatrists recommend at least the first weeks of therapy before you leave.
After rehab: aftercare and relapse prevention at home
Recovery happens mostly after you return home, and relapse is common in the first months — it is a reason to adjust the plan, not a failure. Before discharge you should have a written relapse prevention plan: your triggers and warning signs, what to do with a craving, and the people to call. Arrange a therapist, GP or addiction service at home in advance, take your discharge report and medicine list with you, and ask whether online follow-up sessions with the team in Turkey are possible. Mutual-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, and support for your family, make a real difference. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number at once (112 in Turkey and the EU).
Hospitals with Psychiatry & Addiction in Turkey
Conditions
Frequently asked questions
No hospital on our site lists a fixed price yet. As an approximate guide, 28 days of residential alcohol or drug rehab costs about €5,000–€14,000 and a medically supervised detox about €2,000–€5,000; your exact price is confirmed in a written quote.
Yes, when detox is medically supervised in a licensed hospital or addiction centre with doctors and nurses present day and night. Withdrawal after heavy drinking can cause seizures, so it should never be done without medical care.
If you drink heavily every day, do not stop suddenly without medical advice. Withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium tremens; a doctor can make detox safe with medication.
Detox usually takes one to two weeks and a residential programme about 28 days, sometimes longer. The aftercare plan at home continues for months.
Yes. Medical information is protected by Turkish data protection law and is shared only with your consent, for example with your doctor at home.
Many psychiatrists in larger private hospitals speak English, and some therapists work in English, German, Arabic or Russian. For talking therapy, ask for a therapist who speaks your language fluently rather than working through an interpreter.
Ask before you travel. Methadone is not routinely available in Turkey, and some medicines are strictly controlled. Carry your prescription and a doctor's letter for any medicine you bring.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood. It is mainly used for depression that has not improved with medicines, usually as daily weekday sessions for four to six weeks.
Autism is not a disease to be cured. A child psychiatrist and psychologist can carry out a diagnostic assessment and advise on support such as speech therapy, ABA therapy and school support. Avoid any clinic that promises a cure.
You leave with a discharge report and a relapse prevention plan. Continue therapy with a service at home, see your GP about any medicines, and consider mutual-help groups; some teams offer online follow-up.
A family member can ask for information and a plan, but treatment needs the patient's own informed consent. A psychiatrist can advise the family on how to talk about treatment.