DSM-5 -- The End of Abuse and Dependence

There are major changes to the way that alcohol and drug related diagnoses are being described, since the DSM-V was published last month. The criteria for addiction, according to DSM-IV, was limited to substance dependence, which was applied to many different drugs, including alcohol, marijuana and opioids such as heroin and painkillers. The concept of dependence focused on the physiological symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. A separate category of problems, again applied to many different drugs, was known as substance abuse. Substance abuse did not require physiological dependence, but instead focused on problems occurring as a result of substace use....Read Full Post
Source: About.com Addictions - Category: Addiction Source Type: news