How is Substance Use Disorder severity determined?

• A. Severity is based on the number of criteria met within a 12-month period.
• B. Severity is based on duration of use alone.
• C. Severity is based on self-reported craving.
• D. Severity is based on genetic risk.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that Substance Use Disorder severity is based on how many diagnostic criteria a person meets within a 12-month period. There are 11 criteria in the DSM-5, and the total count determines the level of severity: 2–3 criteria = mild, 4–5 = moderate, 6 or more = severe. This method looks at the overall pattern of problems caused by use, not at a single factor like how long someone has been using, a person’s craving alone, or genetic risk. Craving is indeed one of the criteria, but it’s the total number of criteria met that sets the severity.