Informed consent and capacity in substance use and addictive behaviours

Informed consent is central to consultations with people with disorders of substance use or addictive behaviours. It is important to assess a person’s capacity to give informed consent at each consultation. Consider whether the person has capacity to give consent at that moment or whether are they cognitively impaired. Impairment may be transient (due to an acute problem, such as intoxication) or long-term (due to a chronic condition, such as acquired brain injury).

Detailed advice (including for urgent situations) is available in Informed consent and capacity in a person with a psychiatric disorder.