Medical Disclaimer & Sources

1. The app is not a medical device

Sober has not been evaluated, cleared, or approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or any other regulatory authority. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcohol dependence, or alcohol withdrawal.

The app performs arithmetic on numbers you provide and displays general educational content. It does not assess you, monitor you clinically, or make any clinical determination about you. Nothing it displays constitutes a diagnosis, a prognosis, a treatment plan, or a professional opinion, and no physician–patient, therapist–client, or other professional relationship is created by your use of it.

2. About the health-recovery timeline

The health-recovery timeline in the app presents general educational information compiled from public health sources, which are listed in Section 6 below. It summarizes what is typically observed in general populations after a person stops drinking alcohol.

It is not a prediction about your body. Recovery timelines vary substantially between individuals depending on how much and how long you drank, your age, your sex, your genetics, your nutrition, your other medical conditions, your medications, and factors that are not knowable to an app on your phone. Milestones shown in the timeline are illustrative, approximate, and general. They are not guarantees, and reaching a marker in the app does not mean that a corresponding change has occurred in your body. Some alcohol-related harm may be permanent, and some may improve only partially. Only a clinician who can actually examine and test you can tell you what is happening in your case.

Public health guidance changes as evidence develops. While we make a good-faith effort to reflect authoritative sources, the app’s content may not incorporate the most recent research at any given moment, and it should never be treated as a substitute for current professional advice.

3. About the money and calorie estimates

The money-saved figure and the calories-avoided figure are estimates for motivational purposes only. They are calculated from the values that you enter into the app — what you say you used to spend and used to drink — projected across the elapsed time since your quit date. Their accuracy is entirely dependent on the accuracy of your inputs and on the assumption that your past consumption would have continued unchanged.

They are not financial advice, not nutritional advice, and not an accounting or dietary record. Do not rely on the calories-avoided figure to make dietary or weight-management decisions; consult a physician or a registered dietitian for that.

4. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous

Alcohol withdrawal exists on a spectrum. In people who are physically dependent, it can progress from anxiety, sweating, nausea, and tremor to hallucinations, withdrawal seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs), a medical emergency with a meaningful risk of death when untreated. Severe withdrawal generally requires medical management, which may include supervised detoxification and medication.

Sober cannot detect, assess, monitor, or manage withdrawal in any way. It is a counter. If you drink heavily or daily and you are considering stopping, speak with a physician or another qualified healthcare professional first, so that your risk can be assessed and, if needed, your withdrawal medically supervised. If you are already experiencing withdrawal symptoms — especially confusion, hallucinations, a high fever, or a seizure — seek emergency medical care immediately.

5. Crisis and emergency resources

If you are in immediate danger, or you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call your local emergency number now (911 in the United States).

These services are free and confidential. Reaching out for help is not a relapse and it is not a failure; it is the single most effective thing you can do.

6. Sources and references

The health-recovery timeline and related educational content in the app draw on publicly available guidance from the following public health authorities and organizations. We reproduce no copyrighted text from these sources; we summarize general, widely published health information. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them, and their inclusion here is a citation, not an endorsement of this app.

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, United States Alcohol’s effects on health: research-based information on drinking and its impact — authoritative research on alcohol use disorder, alcohol’s effects on the body, and treatment. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-use-disorder
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Alcohol and Public Health — data and guidance on excessive alcohol use, drinking levels, and associated short- and long-term health risks. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/
3. National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom Tips on cutting down alcohol · Alcohol advice — practical guidance on reducing alcohol intake, alcohol units, and the health benefits of drinking less. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/tips-on-cutting-down-alcohol/ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/
4. World Health Organization (WHO) Alcohol — fact sheet — global evidence on the health and social consequences of alcohol consumption, including its causal role in disease and injury. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol
5. American Heart Association (AHA) Alcohol and heart health — guidance on alcohol’s relationship to blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, stroke, and overall cardiovascular health. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/alcohol-and-heart-health
6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), United States National Helpline and treatment resources — free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service: 1-800-662-4357. https://www.samhsa.gov/ https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
7. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, United States Crisis support — call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. https://988lifeline.org/

7. No warranty and no liability for health outcomes

The information in the app is provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind as to its accuracy, completeness, currency, or fitness for any purpose. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Developer disclaims all liability for any loss, injury, or damage — including relapse, health deterioration, or any other adverse outcome — arising from your use of, or reliance on, the app or any information it displays. Reliance on the app is solely at your own risk. These limitations are set out in full in our Terms of Use.

Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you have read in this app or on this website.

8. Contact

Questions about this disclaimer or about the sources above? Email dmjks120@gmail.com. We aim to respond within two business days. Please note that we cannot give medical advice, and we cannot answer clinical questions about your health — for those, please contact a qualified healthcare professional.

See also: Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Support