Our Internal Editorial Process
The process that we have developed for every piece of content on our website is designed to protect you as a reader. This is how it works:
Careful Selection of Contributors
All contributors to the Forward Motion Health resource library are vetted carefully before they write anything. We evaluate their clinical credentials, professional experience, lived experiences when applicable, and their verified performance history in their respective fields. We choose our authors based on their ability to communicate clearly without compromising accuracy. We choose our medical reviewers based on their expertise and commitment to evidence-based medicine.
We believe in transparency, too. Every article that is published identifies the writer as well as the medical reviewer, providing their credentials and a link to their full profile. If you are ever curious about who wrote an article or who reviewed it, that information is always available.
Content Is Medically Reviewed
The content that is published on the Forward Motion Health website is reviewed by a licensed medical professional prior to publication. The review is not merely a formality; the medical reviewer will assess the content the same way they would in clinical practice. If they believe there is an issue with the content — such as inaccuracies, outdated information, oversimplification, or anything else that could mislead a reader — they will communicate that to the author prior to the article going live. An article that does not pass medical review cannot be published until the identified issues have been resolved.
This comprehensive review process takes longer, and this is why you can trust the information here. Trust is our highest priority, and we treat it that way.
Information Is Sourced from Reliable References
All information related to addiction and mental health, treatment and treatment outcomes, medications, and clinical best practices is sourced from reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, and clinical best practice guidelines established by respected medical organizations and governmental health agencies such as:
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- And other reputable professional medical organizations
Whenever possible, sources of information will be linked or cited so that the reader can validate the source on their own. We believe that providing clear sources for where our information comes from is a part of what makes our content trustworthy in the first place.
Ongoing Review and Updates
Once content is published, that does not mean the editorial process is over.
Both the addiction medicine and mental health fields are evolving. New research is published, new treatment guidelines are released, or new medications are introduced. The terms that we use to communicate about these topics continue to evolve over time, and what was deemed accurate at the time of publishing may become out-of-date without continued maintenance.
We routinely review and revise older articles to create the most current, pertinent, and beneficial information possible. When meaningful updates are made, we clearly identify each item’s revision date in order for our users to know the last time that item has been reviewed for accuracy.
Our Commitment to You
Behind every editorial standard listed above is a simple commitment: the people who land on our content are real people who are going through something difficult. They may be searching for information about what may be happening to a relative. They may be searching for clarity about something they are going through that they can’t quite name. They might be one search away from making a decision about entering treatment for themselves.
The decision to look for help matters. The information we put in front of someone when they need it matters too. That is why we treat each published article, guide, and resource as if someone is depending on it for direction, because they might be. And we commit ourselves to that responsibility every time we publish new material.
If you have any questions about the editorial process, would like to flag any inaccurate or out-of-date articles that need to be brought to our attention, or if you would like to recommend a topic that could be added to our resource library, feel free to contact us.
