Editorial Policy
Our Commitment to Accurate, Compassionate Information
At Des Moines Wellness Center, we know that the people reading our website are often facing one of the hardest moments of their lives, or watching someone they love go through it. Every article, guide and service page we publish is meant to help them understand their options clearly and take the next step with confidence.
Our content is written to be accurate, evidence-based, easy to understand and free of stigma. We cover substance use and mental health conditions, the signs that someone may need help, the different levels of care available, and practical topics like insurance, family support and life after treatment.
The information on desmoinesrecovery.com is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Who Creates and Reviews Our Content
Our content is created by writers and editors who specialize in behavioral health, working alongside our clinical team.
Writers and editors research each topic, draft the content and edit it for clarity, accuracy and tone.
Clinical reviewers are licensed professionals, such as physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, therapists and counselors, who review content that makes medical or clinical claims.
Every article shows who wrote it and, when clinically reviewed, the reviewer's name, credentials and review date. Each name links to a bio describing that person's qualifications and experience.
Our Editorial Process
Every piece of content moves through the same six stages before it reaches our readers.
- Topic selection. We choose topics based on the questions patients and families ask our admissions team, current research and trends in substance use and mental health.
- Research. Writers gather information from the high-quality sources described below and note every source used.
- Writing. Content is written in plain language, at a level most adults can read comfortably, without jargon or sensational claims.
- Editorial review. An editor checks accuracy, sourcing, tone, readability and our stigma-free language standards. Headlines must describe the content honestly.
- Clinical review. Content that discusses symptoms, withdrawal, medications, treatment approaches or health risks is reviewed by a licensed clinician before publishing.
- Publishing and upkeep. Each page is scheduled for a periodic review so it stays current.
Sources and Citations
We build our content on trustworthy, current evidence. Preferred sources include:
- Federal health agencies such as SAMHSA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the CDC
- Peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals
- Professional bodies and clinical guidelines, including the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the American Psychiatric Association
- Our own licensed clinicians and other recognized experts in addiction medicine and mental health
We avoid citing competitor treatment websites, unsourced blogs, forums or commercial sites as evidence. Statistics come from the most recent data available, and we cite the year the data was collected.
Articles include a source list linking to the original material. Direct quotes are attributed by name and are never altered in a way that changes their meaning. We do not fabricate quotes, sources, statistics or credentials.
Clinical Accuracy Standards
Our clinical reviewers check that content:
- Reflects current, evidence-based practice and recognized clinical guidelines
- Describes withdrawal, detox and medication topics safely, and never encourages anyone to detox or change medication without medical supervision
- Presents treatment options fairly, including the limits of what any program can promise
- Makes no guarantees about outcomes, recovery timelines or "cure" rates
- Describes our own services, levels of care and insurance acceptance accurately
If a reviewer flags a concern, the content is revised and reviewed again before it goes live.
Content Updates and Corrections
Medical knowledge changes, and so does our content. We review clinical articles at least every 12 months, and sooner when new research, guidelines, drug trends or laws make a page outdated. Each article shows its last reviewed or updated date.
When we make a factual error, we correct it promptly. Significant corrections are noted on the page with the date of the change. Typos and formatting fixes are made without a note.
If you see something inaccurate, outdated or unclear, please tell us at info@desmoinesrecovery.com. We review every report.
Person-First, Stigma-Free Language
Shame keeps people from asking for help, and language plays a part in that. We use person-first, medically accurate terms and avoid labels that define someone by their illness.
| We use | Instead of |
|---|---|
| Person with a substance use disorder | Addict, junkie, abuser |
| Substance use / misuse | Drug abuse (except in formal diagnostic or legal names) |
| In recovery, not currently using | Clean |
| Returned to use, recurrence | Relapsed as failure, fell off the wagon |
| Medication for addiction treatment | Replacement drug, trading one drug for another |
| Died by suicide | Committed suicide |
We respect how people in recovery describe themselves. When someone sharing their story uses a different term for their own experience, we may keep their words in direct quotes.
We also write for a diverse audience, including people of every age, background, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith and profession, and families supporting a loved one.
Transparency and Independence
Who operates this site. desmoinesrecovery.com is operated by Des Moines Wellness Center, a behavioral health provider. Some of our content describes our own programs and services, and we make it clear when a page is about our care. Details about our licensing, accreditation and ownership are available on our About page.
No paid placements. We do not accept payment, gifts or referral fees in exchange for content, links or recommendations. We do not publish sponsored content.
Use of technology and AI. We may use software tools, including AI-assisted tools, to support research, outlining or editing. Every published page is written or edited by a person, checked against our sources, and clinically reviewed where required. No content is published without human review.
Privacy of people we feature. Recovery stories and testimonials are shared only with written permission. We may change names or details at a person's request to protect their privacy, and we never publish protected health information.
Originality. Our content is original. We do not copy text from other sites, and outside images, data or graphics are used only with permission and proper credit.
Contact Our Editorial Team
Questions, feedback or a correction to report? Email info@desmoinesrecovery.com. If you believe content on our site uses your work without permission, contact the same address with the page URL and details of the original.
To speak with our admissions team about treatment, call 888-378-2158. In an emergency, call 911. For a mental health or suicidal crisis, call or text 988.
This policy was last reviewed September 2026.