Our Editorial Policy

Evidence-based Medically reviewed Updated regularly

Mission

We publish accessible, people-first information about alcohol, substance use, and mental health to help readers make informed decisions. Content never replaces care from a licensed professional or emergency services.

Source Standards

We prioritize primary sources (peer-reviewed journals) and U.S. authorities such as SAMHSA, NIDA, CDC, NIAAA, and FDA. Statistics include dates and links. We avoid unsourced claims and clearly label emerging evidence.

Editorial Workflow

  1. Research & drafting by trained writers following an internal stylebook (plain language, inclusive terms).
  2. Fact-check against primary sources; all citations are added/verified.
  3. Medical review by a licensed clinician for accuracy and risk language.
  4. Copy edit for clarity, reading level, and accessibility.
  5. Final sign-off by an editor; page gets a "Reviewed by" line and date stamp.

Updates & Corrections

Clinical pages are re-reviewed at least annually or sooner if guidance changes. Corrections are dated and summarized in-line.

Conflicts & Independence

Editors and reviewers disclose relevant financial relationships. Advertising and lead-gen do not influence medical content. Sponsored content is labeled.

Safety Language

We include harm-reduction guidance where appropriate and prominent crisis resources (911 and 988). Content avoids instructions for illegal or dangerous activity.

Accessibility & Inclusivity

We write at ~8th–9th grade level, use person-first language, and consider diverse populations (e.g., pregnancy, adolescents, older adults).

Contact

Questions about content? Email editor@talkingalcohol.com.

Last reviewed: • See Contributors.