Alcohol and substance abuse records can only be released with:

The correct answer is that alcohol and substance abuse records can be released only with the client's consent. This aligns with the confidentiality standards established under federal and state regulations, such as 42 CFR Part 2, which specifically governs the confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records. These regulations protect patients' privacy and ensure that any communication regarding their treatment is confidential unless the individual gives explicit permission for this information to be shared.

Client consent must be informed and voluntary, allowing individuals to control who has access to sensitive information about their treatment and recovery journey. This protects their personal privacy rights and encourages open communication between clients and their healthcare providers.

In contrast, options like approval from a supervisor, public interest justification, and written permission from the court do not fully adhere to the strict confidentiality requirements established for substance abuse records. While there may be specific circumstances under which a court might order disclosure or an organization might have policies about supervisor involvement, these scenarios do not replace the fundamental necessity of obtaining the client's explicit consent for the release of such records.