US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 7334

Regulations

(a)
section 7331 of this titlesection 7332 of this titlesection 7333 of this title Regulations prescribed by the Secretary under , with respect to the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse medical records, and with respect to alcohol or drug abusers shall, to the maximum extent feasible consistent with other provisions of this title, make applicable the regulations described in subsection (b) to the conduct of research and to the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under this title.
(b)
The regulations referred to in subsection (a) are—
(1)
Public Law 93–34888 Stat. 348 regulations governing human experimentation and informed consent prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, based on the recommendations of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, established by section 201 of the National Research Act (; ); and
(2)
42 U.S.C. 455121 U.S.C. 1101 regulations governing (A) the confidentiality of drug and alcohol abuse medical records, and (B) the admission of drug and alcohol abusers to private and public hospitals, prescribed pursuant to the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 ( et seq.) and the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 ( et seq.).
(c)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
Regulations prescribed by the Secretary under sections 7331, 7332, and 7333 of this title may contain such definitions, and may provide for such safeguards and procedures (including procedures and criteria for the issuance and scope of court orders under section 7332(b)(2)(C)  of this title), as are necessary to prevent circumvention or evasion of such regulations or to facilitate compliance with such regulations.
(d)
In prescribing and implementing such regulations, the Secretary shall, from time to time, consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and, as appropriate, with the President (or the delegate of the President) in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation of the regulations, which they and the Secretary prescribe.

Pub. L. 94–581, title I, § 111(a)(1)90 Stat. 2851Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(87)96 Stat. 1312Pub. L. 100–322, title I, § 122(a)102 Stat. 504Pub. L. 102–40, title IV105 Stat. 221(Added , , , § 4134; amended , , ; , , ; renumbered § 7334 and amended , §§ 401(a)(4)(A), 402(d)(1), 403(a)(1), (4), , , 239.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 201 of Pub. L. 93–34888 Stat. 348lPub. L. 95–622, title III, § 302(b)92 Stat. 3442Section 201 of the National Research Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is , title II, , , which was set out as a note under section 289–1 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and was repealed by , , .

42 U.S.C. 4551Pub. L. 91–61684 Stat. 1848section 4541 of Title 42The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 ( et seq.), referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 60 (§ 4541 et seq.) of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 92–25586 Stat. 65section 1101 of Title 21The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), which was redesignated the Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act, is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 16 (§ 1101 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Section 7332(b)(2)(C) of this titlesection 4132(b)(2)(C) of this titlePub. L. 100–322, title I, § 121(b)(2)(A)102 Stat. 502Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 401(a)(4)(A)105 Stat. 221Pub. L. 102–40Pub. L. 100–322, referred to in subsec. (c), was formerly a reference to which was redesignated section 4132(b)(2)(D) by , , , and subsequently renumbered section 7332(b)(2)(D) by , , . The reference to section 4132(b)(2)(C) in subsec. (c) was amended to reflect the renumbering by but not the redesignation by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 102–40, § 401(a)(4)(A)section 4134 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(4)Subsec. (a). , struck out “of this section” after “subsection (b)”.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(1), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 402(d)(1), substituted “7331” for “4131”, “7332” for “4132”, and “7333” for “4133”.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(4)Subsec. (b). , struck out “of this section” after “subsection (a)” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(1)Subsec. (c). , substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 402(d)(1), substituted “7331, 7332, and 7333” for “4131, 4132, and 4133” and “7332(b)(2)(C)” for “4132(b)(2)(C)”.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(1)Subsec. (d). , substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places.

Pub. L. 100–3221988— amended section generally, substituting provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (d) for former provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) and (b).

Pub. L. 97–2951982—Subsec. (a). substituted “Health and Human Services” for “Health, Education, and Welfare” wherever appearing, and substituted “the President (or the delegate of the President)” for “the Director of the Office of Drug Abuse Policy (or any successor authority)”.