Editorial Standards

Our commitment

AvoidRehab publishes evidence-based, clinician-reviewed information about substance use and treatment alternatives. We hold ourselves to the editorial standards of a serious health publication: primary sourcing, clinical review, transparent corrections, and no pay-for-coverage arrangements with the treatment industry.

Sources

We source claims from:

• Peer-reviewed journals (PubMed-indexed, with preference for randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses)
• Federal agency guidance (SAMHSA, NIDA, FDA, CMS)
• Clinical guidelines (ASAM Criteria, treatment society guidelines)
• Government data (NSDUH, CDC, DASIS)

We do not cite press releases, treatment center marketing materials, or advocacy documents without independent corroboration. When a claim is contested in the literature, we say so and present the range of evidence.

How content is produced

Research and drafting on this site is assisted by AI tools. We are transparent about this. AI is used to gather and organize research from peer-reviewed journals, government sources, and clinical guidelines. Every article is then reviewed and edited by an experienced clinician, counselor, or social worker with a direct background in substance use treatment before it publishes. Reviewers check for:

• Clinical accuracy
• Appropriate characterization of evidence quality (settled vs. contested, effect size, study design)
• Safety: warnings about medically dangerous situations (alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal, overdose risk)
• Language that respects the people this site is written for

Conflicts of interest

AvoidRehab does not accept payment from treatment programs, pharmaceutical companies, or healthcare systems in exchange for editorial coverage or favorable characterization. Reviewers and writers disclose any relationships with the entities covered in content they review.

We earn affiliate commissions from some product links in our Toolbox section. These links are clearly disclosed and do not influence editorial evaluation. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

Updates and corrections

Articles display a "Last reviewed" date. We update articles when clinical guidance changes significantly, when new high-quality evidence becomes available, or when we discover an error.

Corrections are made transparently: we note what was changed and when at the bottom of the article. We do not silently edit or delete errors.

To flag an error or suggest an update, contact us.

What we do not cover

AvoidRehab does not review or rate specific treatment facilities, does not maintain a provider directory, and does not operate a helpline. We are a reading resource, not a referral service.