Editorial Standards | Valley Spring Recovery Center

How We Create Content

Every article, page, and resource on our website follows a multi-step editorial process designed to ensure accuracy and relevance:

Research — Topics are selected based on clinical relevance, patient needs, and emerging developments in addiction medicine
Expert writing — Content is drafted by health writers with experience in behavioral health and clinical psychology
Clinical review — All clinical content is reviewed by licensed clinicians before publication
Fact-checking — Every statistic, treatment claim, and regulatory reference is verified against authoritative sources

Multi-Step Process

Research, write, review, fact-check, publish. Every page follows this sequence.

Medical Review

All clinical and medical content on our website is reviewed by licensed healthcare professionals before it goes live. Our reviewers include licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and certified alcohol and drug counselors (CADCs).

Reviewers evaluate every piece for clinical accuracy, appropriate terminology, responsible messaging, and alignment with current evidence-based treatment practices. Content that discusses medications, treatment protocols, or specific diagnoses receives additional scrutiny.

Clinician-Reviewed

Licensed professionals verify every clinical claim before publication.

Updates & Corrections

Healthcare information evolves. When new research emerges or treatment guidelines change, we update our content promptly. Each page displays a "last reviewed" date so you can assess currency.

If an error is found, we correct it transparently — typically within 48 hours. Significant corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected page with the date and nature of the change. We believe accountability is essential to trust.

Always Current

Content is reviewed regularly and updated when science or guidelines change.

Editorial Independence

The content on our website is created independently of any commercial, advertising, or partnership interests. Our commitment to independence means:

No advertiser, sponsor, or partner influences our clinical or editorial content
Treatment recommendations are based solely on clinical evidence and patient needs
We do not accept payment for favorable coverage of any product, service, or facility
Any sponsored content is clearly labeled and disclosed
Our clinical team has full authority over all health content decisions

No Outside Influence

Clinical integrity drives every content decision we make.

Our Trusted Sources

We reference only authoritative, peer-reviewed, and government-backed sources. Click below to explore the organizations and publications we rely on.

SAMHSA — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
NIDA — National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIAAA — National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
NIH — National Institutes of Health
CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WHO — World Health Organization

APA — American Psychiatric Association
APA — American Psychological Association
ASAM — American Society of Addiction Medicine
NAADAC — Association for Addiction Professionals
CARF International — Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Addiction (journal)
The American Journal of Psychiatry
Journal of Clinical Psychology
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
DSM-5-TR — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Clinical practice guidelines from ASAM, APA, and SAMHSA

Content You Can Trust