Fast Facts: Consent Requirements for Disclosure of Substance Abuse Records

42 CFR Part 2 are federal regulations prohibiting most disclosures of patient information that could identify a patient as a drug and/or alcohol abuser by a federally assisted substance abuse program. The primary way in which patient substance abuse information may be disclosed is with a patient’s written consent. To learn more about the required elements of a written consent, special consent circumstances for certain types of individuals, such as minors, and re-disclosures of substance abuse information, read our Fast Facts.