Confidentiality & Substance Abuse Information

As you have learned, 42 CFR Part 2 governs confidentiality for substance abuse programs. It also outlines the limited circumstances of information about a client’s treatment, which may be disclosed with or without the client’s consent. In this discussion, you will examine the ethical standards that can align with some of the legal issues concerning release of confidential health information of individuals with substance abuse/use disorders.

Imagine that you are a human services professional working with an adult client who is seeking treatment for a substance abuse overdose.

• Explain at least one way that the limitations under 42 CFR Part 2 for disclosing substance abuse information impact effective information sharing for all parties involved in this scenario.
• Indicate what might be different if your client was a child and had a parent or guardian. If the patient is a minor, how do you ensure provisions under 42 CFR Part 2 are abided by?
• If your client has threatened someone, how do you determine if there is a duty to warn those being threatened?