Clinically reviewed by the Sober Living Clinical Team (Medical Director & Clinical Director)
Every health article, treatment page and guide on soberliving.ca is written by health writers working with our clinical team, reviewed by a qualified member of the Sober Living clinical team before it is published, and checked again at least every 12 months. This page explains exactly how that process works, which sources we rely on, how to report an error and how to verify any clinician’s registration in Ontario.
Key facts
- Content is written by health writers in collaboration with the Sober Living clinical team.
- Medical content is reviewed by our Medical Director; therapy and mental-health content is reviewed by our Clinical Director or Lead Therapist.
- We prioritise Canadian clinical guidelines and public-health bodies (Health Canada, CAMH, CCSA, CRISM, META:PHI), then peer-reviewed research, then reputable international bodies.
- Pages are reviewed at least every 12 months, or sooner when guidance changes, and show a “Last reviewed” date.
- Report an error to info@soberliving.ca with the subject line “Content correction”.
Why this policy exists
Addiction and mental-health information can affect decisions about safety, so we hold it to a clinical standard rather than a marketing one. People often read our pages at a difficult moment: a parent worried about a child’s fentanyl use, someone wondering whether it is safe to stop drinking, a partner trying to understand a relapse. Inaccurate or overstated information in that moment can cause real harm. This policy sets out the standards our writers and reviewers follow so that readers, families and referring professionals can judge how much weight to give what we publish.
Who writes our content?
Our pages are written by health writers who work directly with the Sober Living clinical team. Writers draft content from the source hierarchy described below and from the way our program actually operates, then pass every draft to a clinical reviewer. Writers do not add clinical claims that a reviewer has not checked, and they do not describe services, outcomes or credentials that the centre cannot verify.
When a page describes our own program (for example, how medical detox is supervised or what happens during the intake process), the description is confirmed with the staff who deliver that part of care.
Who reviews it?
Every page is reviewed by the member of our clinical team whose scope of practice matches the topic. We do not publish named reviewer profiles on individual pages, but the reviewing role is recorded for each page and you can ask us which role reviewed any page.
| Type of content | Reviewed by | What the reviewer checks |
|---|---|---|
| Medical content: withdrawal, detox, medications, overdose, Sublocade and other medication-assisted treatment | Medical Director (physician, addiction medicine) | Clinical accuracy, safety warnings, medication information, alignment with current Canadian guidance |
| Therapy and mental-health content: CBT, DBT, trauma, depression, anxiety, family support | Clinical Director or Lead Therapist | Accurate description of therapies, realistic expectations, trauma-informed and non-stigmatising language |
| Program, admissions and practical information | Clinical Director, with the Admissions Team | That the page reflects how our program and intake currently work |
If a reviewer disagrees with a draft, the page is revised or held back. Nothing clinical is published on the strength of the writer’s judgement alone. You can read about the roles on our clinical team on the Our Team page.
What sources do we rely on?
We follow a fixed source hierarchy, starting with Canadian clinical guidelines and public-health bodies, because they reflect the laws, medications and health system that apply to our readers.
- Canadian clinical guidelines and public-health bodies. Health Canada, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA, including Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health), the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) national guidelines, and META:PHI clinical tools for Ontario addiction care.
- Peer-reviewed research. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and well-designed studies published in recognised medical and psychology journals, used when Canadian guidance does not address a question or when we need more detail.
- Reputable international bodies. Organisations such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), SAMHSA and the World Health Organization, used for context and where Canadian sources are silent.
We do not use commercial websites, forums, social media or unsourced articles as evidence. Where evidence is limited or experts disagree, we say so plainly rather than presenting one view as settled.
How do we cite sources?
Each clinical page ends with a “Sources & clinical references” list that links to the organisations and guidelines the page relies on. We link to the original publisher rather than to a summary of it, and we prefer stable pages such as official guideline pages or an organisation’s main site. When we give a specific figure, such as a withdrawal timeline or a guideline threshold, it comes from one of those sources. If we cannot find a reliable source for a number, we leave the number out.
How often is content updated?
Every clinical page is reviewed at least once every 12 months, and sooner when a relevant guideline, drug-supply alert, medication approval or law changes. Each reviewed page shows a “Last reviewed” date near the top so you can see how current it is. When a review leads to a meaningful change, such as a new safety warning or revised medication information, the page is updated and the date is refreshed. Minor edits to spelling or formatting do not change the review date.
How do I report an error?
If you believe something on our site is inaccurate, out of date or unclear, email info@soberliving.ca with the subject line “Content correction”. Please include the page address and, if possible, the source you are relying on.
- We acknowledge correction requests and send them to the clinical reviewer responsible for that topic.
- If the reviewer confirms an error, the page is corrected and its review date is updated.
- Corrections that affect safety, such as a medication dose or withdrawal warning, are prioritised above all other content work.
We welcome corrections from clinicians, people with lived experience and family members alike.
Medical disclaimer
Important: The information on this website is for general education and is not a substitute for assessment, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified clinician. Do not start, stop or change any medication, and do not stop alcohol or benzodiazepines suddenly, without speaking to a doctor, because withdrawal can be dangerous. In an emergency, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 at any time.
Reading a page on our site does not create a clinician-client relationship. If you have questions about your own situation, our admissions team can arrange a free, confidential consultation, and your family doctor or nurse practitioner is always an appropriate first contact.
Independence and sponsorship
Our content is not sponsored, and we do not accept payment from pharmaceutical companies, device makers or other treatment providers to publish, rank or recommend anything. We do not run paid placements disguised as editorial content. Where we describe a service we offer, such as our Sublocade program, we describe it as our own service and still link to independent sources so readers can check the clinical facts for themselves. Clinical reviewers are not rewarded for how a page performs in search or how many enquiries it generates.
How do we choose our language?
We use person-first, non-stigmatising language because stigma is a documented barrier to seeking care. We write “a person with alcohol use disorder” rather than “an alcoholic”, and “substance use” rather than “abuse”, except where a common search term or quotation requires the older wording. We avoid moral language such as “clean” and “dirty” for test results, and we describe relapse as a recognised part of many people’s recovery rather than a failure. We write in Canadian English and refer to Canadian services, including OHIP, ConnexOntario and 9-8-8.
Privacy and client stories
We never publish identifiable client stories, photos, quotes or details without the person’s written consent. Personal health information is protected under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), and we treat that obligation as applying to our website as much as to our clinical records. Where a page uses an example to illustrate a situation, it is a composite or hypothetical example and is not presented as a real person’s experience. We do not invent testimonials, reviews or outcome statistics.
How can I verify a clinician in Ontario?
Every regulated health professional in Ontario is listed on a public register kept by their regulatory college, and anyone can search it free of charge. You can ask us for the full name and registration details of any clinician involved in your or your family member’s care, then check the relevant register yourself.
| Profession | Regulatory body | Public register |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) | cpso.on.ca |
| Nurses (RN, RPN, NP) | College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) | cno.org |
| Registered psychotherapists | College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) | crpo.ca |
| Social workers and social service workers | Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) | ocswssw.org |
| Psychologists | College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPO) | cpo.on.ca |
A register entry shows whether a professional is currently authorised to practise and whether any conditions or restrictions apply to their practice. If you have questions about our team, see Our Team or visit our FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the information on soberliving.ca medical advice?
No. Our pages are reviewed by our clinical team for accuracy, but they are general education, not personal medical advice. Your situation depends on your health history, medications and substance use pattern, so speak to a doctor or nurse practitioner before making changes. In an emergency call 911, and for a mental-health crisis call or text 9-8-8.
Why don’t your pages name the reviewer?
We identify the reviewing role (Medical Director, Clinical Director or Lead Therapist) rather than publishing staff names on every page. The reviewing role is recorded for each page, and families are welcome to ask for the name and registration details of any clinician involved in their care so they can check the public register of that clinician’s regulatory college.
How quickly are errors corrected?
Correction requests sent to info@soberliving.ca with the subject “Content correction” go to the clinical reviewer for that topic. Anything that affects safety, such as medication or withdrawal information, is prioritised ahead of all other content work. Once a correction is confirmed, the page is updated and its “Last reviewed” date changes.
Are the stories on your website real clients?
We never publish an identifiable client story without that person’s written consent, in line with Ontario’s PHIPA privacy law. Examples used to explain a situation are composite or hypothetical and are not presented as a real person’s experience. We do not publish invented testimonials, reviews or success statistics.
Sources & clinical references
- Health Canada — Substance use
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)
- Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) — National guidelines
- META:PHI — Mentoring, Education, and Clinical Tools for Addiction: Partners in Health Integration
- Government of Ontario — Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
This page is general health information and does not replace advice from your own doctor or care team. If you are in immediate danger or think someone has overdosed, call 911.