In Defense of "Dependence"
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles). 19 October 2007





Extract
There is a recent recommendation that the word ‘‘addiction’’ be added to the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in place of ‘‘dependence’’ (O’Brien et al., 2006). Support for this recommendation has been mixed in the form of letters to the editor about the original editorial (Am J Psychiat, Nov 2006) and several papers in a supplement issue of the journal Addiction in 2006. However, the issue needs further discussion to determine whether there should be a change in DSM-V.
. . . . . . .
To summarize, the term ‘‘addiction’’ is a popular term, not an accurate clinical or scientific term. To replace ‘‘dependence’’ with ‘‘addiction’’ in the DSM would be a step backward scientifically, it would confuse ongoing stigma-reduction strategies of grassroots organizations, and there is no evidence for (and no strategy to implement) the idea that use of the word ‘‘addiction’’ would in any way reduce the suffering of chronic pain patients. We are scientists. Let us get the evidence
before we make a serious terminology change such as this one.

Read Summary


Request Reprint E-Mail: erickson.carl@mail.utexas.edu
___________________________________________________________________