Confidentiality and Consent in Adolescent Substance Abuse: An Update

Abstract

Introduction Privacy is essential to adolescents who seek health care. When adolescents perceive that health care services are not confidential, they report that they are less likely to seek care, particularly for reproductive health matters or substance abuse.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Clearly, delay or failure to receive care for these concerns increases the risk for complications.9