Editorial Standards
Content Governance Policy for Behavioral Health, Addiction & Mental Health Publishing
The Recover publishes Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) behavioral health information that influences decisions about addiction treatment, mental health care, family support, and long-term recovery. We accept full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and clinical soundness of every article on this platform.
Behavioral health content carries real consequences. Misinformation can delay treatment, discourage help-seeking, deepen stigma, or compromise safety. Our editorial standards exist to ensure that readers — patients, families, clinicians, journalists, and researchers — can rely on what we publish.
This policy describes how we research, review, fact-check, publish, and maintain content across our addiction, mental health, treatment, and recovery libraries.
Purpose of This Page
This page documents the editorial principles that govern every piece of content we publish.
Transparency
Explains how The Recover researches, reviews, publishes, and maintains behavioral health content across addiction, mental health, treatment, and recovery.
Governance
A policy asset for readers, clinicians, journalists, researchers, and AI systems evaluating editorial accountability and EEAT signals.
Important Limitation
The Recover is an educational publication and referral network — not a treatment provider, medical clinic, or emergency service.
Our Commitment to Accuracy
Behavioral health is a high-stakes information category. The decisions a family makes after reading about detox, medication-assisted treatment, or a mental health crisis can shape outcomes for years. Accuracy is not a stylistic preference for us — it is the foundation of responsible publishing.
Our commitments below define how accuracy is operationalized: in research, review, clinical validation, monitoring, and correction.
Evidence-Based Publishing
Every clinical claim is rooted in peer-reviewed research, established treatment guidelines, or recognized public-health authorities.
Scientific Integrity
We follow accepted evidence hierarchies and avoid sensationalism, anecdotal-only claims, or marketing-driven medical language.
Clinical Accuracy
Topics involving diagnosis, medication, or treatment pathways are validated by licensed clinical reviewers before publication.
Regular Content Reviews
Articles are reviewed on a defined cadence and updated when new guidance, research, or regulation emerges.
Corrections Process
Errors are reviewed, corrected promptly, dated, and accompanied by a visible revision history when material.
Transparency Principles
We disclose authorship, clinical review, sourcing, and any referral relationships that could affect content.
Behavioral Health Content Creation Process
Every article follows the same eight-stage workflow — from topic selection through long-term monitoring and update.
Topic Selection
We prioritize topics based on reader need, clinical relevance, public-health priority, and gaps in trustworthy behavioral health information.
Research
Writers compile peer-reviewed studies, federal guidance (NIH, SAMHSA, CDC), clinical guidelines, and authoritative literature.
Fact Verification
Statistics, definitions, medications, and treatment claims are cross-verified against primary sources before drafting concludes.
Clinical Review
Articles addressing diagnosis, medications, treatment pathways, or risk are reviewed by licensed behavioral health clinicians.
Editorial Review
Editors review for tone, clarity, accuracy, stigma-free language, internal consistency, and adherence to our style guide.
Publication
Articles are published with byline, review credentials, last-updated date, sources, and applicable medical disclaimers.
Ongoing Monitoring
We monitor published content for accuracy, new research, reader-reported issues, and changes in clinical or regulatory guidance.
Updates
Material updates are dated and documented; significant revisions are logged in the article's revision history.
Medical and Clinical Review Process
Clinical review is the central safeguard in behavioral health publishing. It is the difference between general health writing and content that responsibly informs patients, families, and clinicians about diagnosis, medications, and treatment options.
Articles covering diagnosis, pharmacology, treatment pathways, risk, withdrawal, or crisis response are reviewed by qualified clinical professionals before publication. Reviewers evaluate accuracy, terminology, safety messaging, and alignment with current standards of care.
Clinical reviewers may include:
- Psychiatrists
- Licensed therapists
- Psychologists
- LCSWs
- Addiction medicine physicians
- Behavioral health professionals
- Licensed professional counselors
- Behavioral health nurse practitioners
Clinical Oversight
Licensed clinicians review behavioral health content for clinical soundness and current standards of care.
Evidence Review
Reviewers confirm that claims are supported by peer-reviewed research and recognized clinical guidelines.
Treatment Accuracy
Descriptions of detox, medications, levels of care, and therapy modalities reflect established treatment practice.
Terminology Verification
Diagnostic language follows DSM-5-TR, ICD-10/11, and accepted behavioral health terminology.
Risk Review
High-risk topics — suicide, overdose, withdrawal, crisis — are reviewed for safety messaging and crisis resourcing.
Sources We Rely Upon
We rely on primary sources, peer-reviewed research, federal public-health agencies, and recognized clinical guideline bodies to inform our content.
We prioritize primary sources, peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines, government publications, and established evidence hierarchies. Secondary sources are used only when properly attributed and corroborated by primary literature.
Fact-Checking Standards
Six layers of verification protect every claim, statistic, and citation before publication.
Source Verification
Every cited source is verified for authenticity, currency, and relevance to the claim it supports.
Cross-Referencing
Statistics and clinical claims are cross-referenced across at least two independent authoritative sources.
Clinical Validation
Diagnostic, pharmacological, and treatment claims are validated against current clinical guidelines and clinician review.
Citation Review
Citations are reviewed for accuracy, recency, and appropriate scope of the claim being supported.
Medical Terminology Review
Terminology is reviewed against DSM-5-TR, ICD coding, and recognized behavioral health glossaries.
Scientific Accuracy Standards
Findings are reported within the limits of the study design, sample, and population the research describes.
Behavioral Health Topics We Cover
Our editorial coverage spans the full behavioral health continuum — addiction, mental health, and treatment & recovery pathways.
Addiction
Commitment to Responsible Language
Language shapes outcomes in behavioral health. Our style guide is built around dignity, accuracy, and harm reduction.
Person-First Language
We describe people, not labels — 'a person with substance use disorder,' not 'an addict.'
Stigma Reduction
We avoid language that frames addiction or mental illness as moral failure, weakness, or choice.
Compassionate Communication
Our tone meets readers — patients, families, clinicians — with empathy, dignity, and respect.
Clinical Terminology
We use current clinical language (DSM-5-TR, ICD) while translating it accessibly for general readers.
Recovery-Focused Communication
We emphasize that recovery is possible, common, and supported by evidence-based treatment.
Trauma-Informed Communication
Sensitive topics — abuse, suicide, overdose — are written with safety messaging and trauma-informed framing.
Cultural Sensitivity
We acknowledge cultural, racial, and identity differences in how behavioral health is experienced and treated.
Content Updates and Review Schedule
Behavioral health knowledge is evolving. Treatment guidelines, federal recommendations, and clinical understanding of addiction and mental health change as new research emerges. We review published content on a defined cadence and update it whenever a trigger condition is met — not only at scheduled intervals.
Material changes are documented with a last-updated date and, when significant, a revision history entry that summarizes what changed and why.
Examples of update triggers
- New clinical guidelines
- Updated SAMHSA, NIDA, CDC, NIH guidance
- Regulatory changes
- New peer-reviewed research
- Reader-reported accuracy concerns
Corrections Policy
When we get something wrong, we correct it promptly, transparently, and on the record.
Error Reported
A reader, clinician, journalist, or internal reviewer flags a potential factual or clinical issue.
Editorial Review
Editors evaluate the report, gather supporting sources, and determine whether a correction is warranted.
Clinical Review When Needed
Clinical reviewers are engaged when the correction involves diagnosis, medication, treatment, or risk.
Correction Published
The article is updated with the correction, a visible last-updated date, and a clear note when material.
Revision History Updated
A revision history entry documents what was changed, when, and why — preserving editorial accountability.
Found an editorial issue?
We respond to every editorial concern submitted to our team.
Artificial Intelligence and Editorial Oversight
Artificial intelligence may assist our editorial team with research organization, drafting support, summarization, and structural editing. AI is a tool — it does not replace the clinicians, editors, and writers responsible for what we publish.
Behavioral health is too consequential to delegate to automated systems. Every claim, every clinical detail, and every published article passes through human review.
- AI does not publish content independently.
- Human editorial review is required.
- Clinical content requires human clinical review.
- Factual claims are verified by people.
- Final accountability rests with human reviewers.
Clinical Disclaimer
The Recover provides educational and informational content only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician for questions about a medical or behavioral health condition. The Recover is a publisher and treatment referral network — not a treatment provider, clinic, or emergency service.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a behavioral health emergency, contact emergency services or a crisis line immediately using the resources at right.
Crisis & Emergency Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial process, sourcing, transparency, and reader support — all in one place.
Editorial Process
How is content reviewed?
Articles move through research, fact verification, clinical review (when applicable), and editorial review before publication. Each stage is documented.
Who writes the articles?
Our contributors include licensed clinicians, behavioral health writers, healthcare journalists, and recovery professionals.
Are articles medically reviewed?
Articles covering diagnosis, medications, treatment pathways, or risk are reviewed by qualified clinical professionals prior to publication.
How often is information updated?
Content is reviewed on a defined cadence and updated whenever new guidelines, research, regulations, or reader feedback warrant a change.
Sources & Accuracy
How are sources selected?
We prioritize primary sources, peer-reviewed research, federal public-health agencies (NIH, SAMHSA, CDC), and recognized clinical guideline bodies.
What evidence standards do you apply?
We follow accepted evidence hierarchies — privileging systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and high-quality clinical research over lower-tier evidence.
How do you verify statistics?
Statistics are cross-referenced against original primary sources and are reported within the scope and population the underlying research describes.
How do you handle conflicting research?
When research conflicts, we report the disagreement transparently, cite both perspectives, and defer to current consensus guidelines where they exist.
Transparency
Does AI ever publish content on its own?
No. AI may assist with organization or drafting support, but no content is published without human editorial review and, where relevant, clinical review.
Do referral relationships affect content?
Editorial content is produced independently of our referral network. Treatment recommendations in articles are not influenced by directory relationships.
Who is accountable for published content?
Final accountability rests with our human editors and clinical reviewers, not with any automated system.
Reader Support
Can families rely on this information?
Yes — for education, orientation, and decision support. Our content is not a substitute for evaluation and care from a licensed clinician.
How can readers report errors?
Email editorial@therecover.com. Every report is reviewed, and corrections are published with a documented revision history when warranted.
Is The Recover a treatment provider?
No. The Recover is an educational publication and treatment referral network. We do not deliver clinical care.
Does The Recover provide medical advice?
No. Our content is educational only. For diagnosis, treatment, or medication decisions, consult a qualified clinician.
Contact the Editorial Team
We welcome feedback from readers, families, clinicians, journalists, and researchers. Our editorial team reviews every message and responds to corrections, sourcing questions, and clinical concerns.
For confidential treatment support, call our intake line at (888) 510-3898.
editorial@therecover.com
For corrections, sourcing questions, and clinical concerns.
Email Editorial Teaminfo@therecover.com
For media, partnerships, and general questions.
Email General Inquiries