A new study carried out by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center, University of New South Wales in Sydney has showed that by implementing the proposed parameters for alcohol abuse and dependence, there would be an increase in the number of those who are considered as problem drinkers.

Louise Mewton from the University of NSW stated that with the planned changes to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), there would be a 60% rise in the proportion of problem drinkers in Australia from 6.0% to 9.7%. The number will also increase significantly in other nations.

Adding to this, she told that there needed to be conducted further study to determine if those who qualified for the alcohol use disorder category got affected with alcohol-related problems that were clinically reasonable. Along with that, she said that it was required to assess if they would receive help by a formal diagnosis under this new category.

She said, "If people diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder under the new criteria do experience substantial disability and impairment, then diagnosis, early intervention and further treatment would be appropriate".

Four chief changes to the DSM-IV have been proposed for DSM-5 that will come in 2013. In DSM-S, two separate disorders `alcohol abuse' and alcohol dependence' would be considered as one i. e. `alcohol use disorder'. Another is for a person to qualify as affected with an alcohol use disorder of moderate severity in new manual; he/she will have to meet three or more criteria. No legal problems associated with alcohol will be included in DSM-5. Fourth is the craving will be introduced to the DSM-5.