Addiction Terms - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

The American Psychiatric Association will no longer categorize short-term drug and alcohol problems as substance abuse, and long-term addiction as substance dependence.

Instead, it now will give only one diagnosis - with varying degrees - mild, moderate or severe.

Supporters say this will help an addict get immediate attention.

Opponents say, it will artificially inflate the number of people categorized as addicts.

In turn -- costing hundreds of millions of dollars in what could be unnecessary treatment.