When a police officer requests your client's records based on an admission made in a group session, how should you respond?

The appropriate response in this scenario is to neither confirm nor deny that an individual is the client because they have not signed a release. Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of substance use treatment, and counselors must adhere to legal and ethical guidelines that protect client information. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 CFR Part 2, which governs the confidentiality of substance use disorder treatment records, a counselor cannot disclose any information about a client without their explicit consent, unless certain exceptions apply, such as a legitimate court order or emergency situations.

In this case, since the officer does not have a signed release from the client to disclose their information, confirming or denying the client's status would violate those confidentiality protections. Therefore, maintaining client confidentiality by refraining from any acknowledgment of the client's involvement in treatment is the correct and ethical course of action. This approach helps to protect the client's privacy while also adhering to legal requirements regarding the handling of sensitive information.