The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is scheduled for release in May 2013 (www.dsm5.org). It will replace the DSM-IV, which was initially published in 1994. Changes that have been made to the diagnostic criteria for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) in DSM-5, which are intended to increase their validity and utility, include: 1) omission of the criterion “recurrent legal problems,” 2) addition of a “craving” criterion, and 3) combining abuse and dependence to yield an SUD that is mild (i.e., two or three of the 11 criteria met), moderate (i.e., four or five criteria met) or severe (i.e., six or more criteria met) (O’Brien, 2011; www.dsm5.org).
