Editorial & Listing Verification Policy

1. First-Person Recovery Stories

Every interview in our Sobriety and Recovery Stories collection represents the lived experience of a real member of the recovery community:

• Direct Submissions & Interviews: Stories are submitted directly by the featured individual or conducted via structured written interviews with our editorial team.
• Identity & Consent Verification: Before publication, we confirm the contributor's consent to share their story, sobriety date, photos, and external social or book links publicly.
• Light Copy Editing Only: We edit strictly for formatting, readability, and grammar while preserving the contributor's authentic voice and personal perspective.

2. Educational Articles & Recovery Resources

Articles published on Openly Sober are written and reviewed to provide supportive, practical information on sobriety, recovery culture, and personal growth:

• Human-Edited Content: Every article is written or reviewed by Butler Raines prior to publication.
• Non-Medical Scope: Openly Sober is a peer-led recovery community and educational resource, not a medical provider. Our content does not replace professional medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or licensed addiction treatment.

3. Directory Listing Verification Policy

Our Recovery & Treatment Directory helps individuals and families locate addiction treatment centers, detox programs, sober living homes, and recovery organizations across the United States:

• Source Verification: Listings are compiled and cross-checked against public federal and state behavioral health registries (including SAMHSA treatment locators) and official facility websites.
• Manual Review of Submissions: Community-recommended listings submitted through our Recommend a Listing form are manually reviewed by our editorial team to verify the facility name, physical address, phone number, website, and services offered before going live.
• Independence: Inclusion in the Openly Sober Directory is based on providing legitimate recovery, treatment, or sober living services.

4. Corrections, Updates & Removals

We are committed to keeping our stories, articles, and treatment directory accurate and up to date. If you spot outdated facility contact information, need to update a directory listing, or wish to request an edit to a published story or article, please reach out via our Contact Page and we will review and update the page promptly.