What regulation governs the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patients?

The regulation that governs the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patients is 42 C.F.R. Part 2. This federal regulation specifically provides guidelines on how substance use disorder treatment records must be protected. It establishes the legal framework for confidentiality, detailing how treatment information can be shared and under what circumstances, thereby ensuring that individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders can do so without fear of their information being disclosed without consent.

While HIPAA Standards set broad regulations for patient privacy across many aspects of healthcare, 42 C.F.R. Part 2 offers additional protections that are critical in the context of alcohol and drug abuse treatment. This regulation is particularly significant because it addresses the unique challenges associated with stigma and discrimination that individuals with substance use disorders may face.

State Addiction Services Laws and the Patient Privacy Act may provide other levels of protection, but they do not specifically focus on the nuances relevant to substance use treatment records as 42 C.F.R. Part 2 does. Thus, for alcohol and drug abuse patients, 42 C.F.R. Part 2 is the governing regulation ensuring confidentiality and protection of their treatment information.