How we research and update our guides

This page explains where our facts come from, how app pages are put together and what happens when we get something wrong. It applies to every guide on MeQuit.

Sources we rely on

Health claims come from primary or official sources: CDC, NIH institutes (NIAAA, NIDA, NCI), FDA, SAMHSA, NHS, WHO, Cochrane systematic reviews and peer-reviewed journals. We prefer guidelines and systematic reviews over single studies, and we say when evidence is thin or mixed. Sources used on a page are linked in the text and listed at the end.

Numbers such as withdrawal windows, medication doses or standard drink sizes are only published when a source gives them. Where guidance differs between the US and the UK, we say which one we are quoting.

Medical safety rules

  • Pages about alcohol withdrawal always state that heavy daily drinkers should get medical advice before stopping, and list emergency signs.
  • Pages about medication describe options and side effects; prescribing decisions belong to a clinician or pharmacist.
  • Pregnancy, heart disease, mental health conditions and interactions are flagged where they change the advice.

How app reviews and rankings work

App pages are built from each app's App Store listing (price to download, rating and rating count, update date, described features) and from independent research such as peer-reviewed evaluations and public user feedback. We date these facts because they change. We do not claim hands-on testing unless a page says exactly what was tested.

NicLess and the MeQuit Quit Smoking program come from the team behind this site. On nicotine app rankings they appear first and second, and the page says so. Our alcohol app, Drink Lens, is not released and is never ranked.

Updates and corrections

Each page shows the date it was last updated. We review pages when guidance changes, when an app changes its features or pricing, and when a reader reports an error. Corrections change the page itself; we do not leave outdated advice in place.

Not a substitute for care

MeQuit is educational. It cannot assess your situation. If you are unsure whether it is safe to stop drinking, or you need help to quit smoking, talk to a doctor, pharmacist or a quitline such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW.