Okay, I admit it, I'm a Strib comment abuser/addict. How much can I collect if I self-medicate myself?

Surprised it's taken so long! Eat too many Twinkees? YOU ARE AN ADDICT! Plant too many tomatoes? YOU ARE AN ADDICT! Watch too many cartoons? YOU ARE AN ADDICT! 12 steps for everyone is the answer, and overpriced insurance will pay for it all!! Enjoy wallpaper just a little too much? YOU ARE AN ADDICT! A little too much Michelle Bachmann in your life? YOU ARE AN ADDICT! Doesn't matter what you're addicted to, we've got 12 government sponsored steps that will free you from ANYTHING, as long as you can admit that you're powerless! AMEN!!!

And, once again, people with self esteem and self control will be asked to foot the bill and clean up the mess. Paying for treatment is just the tip of the spear: all certified addicts will also qualify for disability payments and get a free ride, and a universal excuse. Nobody quits their addiction until they want to. To make them want to quit, make them pay for the consequences of their actions. And stop handing out excuses! Excuses create failure.

What's at stake? I'll tell you what. Millions upon millions more people applying and getting Social Security Disability benefits, that's what. The number has exploded in the last few years. Yes, you can get SSD for being obese, addicted to food, sex, alcohol, any drugs, any perceived debilitating "mental illness". There are websites that outline how to "act" at a medical evauluation so you can "pass" the SSD test. If you think the SS system is broke now, just wait.

And what a coincidence, tons more prescription drugs will be sold because of this, with yet more huge profits for Big Pharma!

Disgustingly...the real issue is the financial ties between the psychiatric panel members and the pharmaceutical industry. Big pharma is behind most expanded diagnosis purely as another avenue for revenue. Simple background check on conflict-of-interest of voting members on this DSM panel reveals everyone has deep pockets being filled by pharma, and they call this science.

Just don't give them social security disability

Of course this is happening! What did you expect? Nobody should be responsible for their own actions! If you do something wrong, all you have to say is "I'm a _________ addict" and your off the hook. This country is going down the tubes faster than you can say Jack Robinson and we have the P.C. thought police to thank.

Let's think about this... The guys who are changing the standards represent the psyciatric industry. Maybe their motivation might be toward getting more patients?

triode, you have a decent point, going overboard with classifying addictions is a dangerous place to go, what's next if we categorize shopping and video games? But it is completely naive to think that addicts can "quit when they want to". Go tell that to a heroin addict or their family. Unless you have a loved one in that particular drug addiction you have no idea what it is like not only for the addict, but all who care about them and love them, so please don't talk about something you know nothing about. It is no good. And it is not as simple as "quitting when they want to". Addicts get physically sick and use the drug not because they want to, but because they need to so the terrible withdrawl symptoms go away. Thats why heroin is so bad and probably the hardest drug addiction to kick. Now, you say why do we have to flip the bill for this? Well, would you rather flip the bill for treatment for an addict and at least a chance of them recovering and becomming sober and a contributing member of society, or flip the bill to send them to prison where they won't get the help they need and then after being released offend again and go back to prison again, and guess what, you and I pay for it again. The problem with this country is we treat drug addicts as criminals and not patients who need help, and if you look at a lot of European countries that dont criminalize addiction, they have a much higher recovery rate and also have a more drug free society with less crime. We all pay for drug addicts addiction, whether through rehab or prison/jail, wouldn't you rather pay for the one that at least has a chance of making sure you don't have to pay for this person again?