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Addiction Overview: DSM 5 Substance Use Disorder

February 24, 2025  |  Category: Addiction Treatment

What Is The DSM-5 For Substance Use Disorder?

The DSM-5 is the latest versions of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). This is a virtual diagnostic book published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It is over one thousand pages documenting the contributions of over 200 subject matter experts with the goal of categorizing and defining the criteria sets for more than 70 mental health disorders and is widely considered the pinnacle in helping clinicians and researchers define and classify mental disorders, improving diagnoses, treatments and research for the mass population.

One of the main updates from the DSM-4 edition was to DSM-5’s substance use disorder criteria that help to capture the severity of an individual’s addiction.

 

DSM-5’s Substance Use Disorder 11 Criteria For Addiction

The hundreds of subject matter experts have refined their criteria for the severity of addiction across substance use disorders, spanning a wide variety of symptoms that may occur. These 11 criteria listed below can be grouped into four categories of physical dependence, risk, social effects, and impaired control.

1. Using more of a substance than its intended use or for longer periods then intended
2. Trying to cut down or stop using the substance but not being able to stop
3. Experiencing intense cravings or urges to use the substance
4. Needing more of the substance to get the desired effect or building up of a tolerance to that substance
5. Developing withdrawal symptoms after not using the substance
6. Spending more time getting and using drugs leading to longer recovery periods
7. Neglecting responsibilities at home, work or school due to substance use
8. Continuing substance use despite leading to or effecting relationships with primary individuals inside or outside one’s family
9. Giving up on social or desirable recreational activities that once seemed important but have lost interest due to substance use
10. Using substances continuously despite the dangers or dangerous situations surrounding substance use
11. Continuing to substance use despite both mental and physical problems occurring associated with the substance

 

 What Are The Drug Classes Covers In The DSM-5 Substance Use Disorders?

The hundreds of subject matter experts grouped the over 70 mental health disorders found in the DSM-5 into ten separate drug classes associated with the substance use disorders (SUDs):

1. Alcohol
2. Caffeine
3. Cannabis
4. Hallucinogens
5. Inhalants
6. Opioids
7. Sedatives
8. Hypnotics, or anxiolytics
9. Stimulants
10. Tobacco

We hope you found this information helpful regarding the DSM-5 and it’s criteria for identifying the severity of the different substance use disorders.. If you or a loved one needs any assistance with addiction treatment services, please reach out to Long Island Center for Recovery at 631-728-3100, and we’d be happy to assist you or your loved ones in any way possible.

References:
National Library Of Medicine | National Center for Biotechnology Information: DSM-5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders: Recommendations and Rationale
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3767415/

 American Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

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