The DSM-5, the updated version of  the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will be out in 2013. This is the bible of mental health professionals for making official medical diagnoses of mental illness in its various forms. It has huge ramifications for all mental health patients since health insurance companies base  coverage allowances and policies on the DSM. Whether an individual qualifies for disability are answered based on the DSM.

For most of us, this discussion does not become relevant until we need help from a mental health professional. Anecdotal accounts, seem to point to a growing problem of Internet related addictions and clinics for handling Internet addiction are popping up worldwide. China and Korea even decalred Internet Addiction to be their top health concern. And with place like "ReStart" opening up - a Washington based rehab for Internet addicts, the fact that there are patients heading there at $14,000 a stay, means something is going on.

/?p=153" Internet Addiction will not likely be added to this version of the DSM. But the issue has been opened up for debate. And even if Internet Addiction is not in the DSM-5, it obviously does not make it less of a problem. We know the Internet is having a severe impact on our lives in countless ways. It’s an activity that was not in existence just 15 years ago and now, the average person is online at least a few hours each week, if not more. It’s not uncommon for our children to be online for hours at a time.

No one has yet quantified or qualified the real impact the Internet is having on society. Surely, like anything else, it has it’s good side and its bad side. The easy accessibility to information is wonderfully empowering. It’s fun. It’s educational, it saves us time, etc.   And yes, it is addictive. We don’t need the DSM-5 to make it official. Nor does it makes sense to say that only what is in the DSM is truly addictive. People’s lives are being sucked up into cyberspace. Availability of uncensored content is potentially corruptive and destructive and is having significantly devestating effects on lives.

Thought needs to be put into how to properly include online life in our every day lives. Is it okay for children and teens to chat for hours via Facebook? Is it "right" to be able to upload embarassing videos of other for anyone to see? Do we need to install filters to block bad content? Do we need to set time limits on our computers? Should we push for laws to require control over what is accessible? Should online gambling be legal? There are many issues to deal with related to what the Internet is making readily available. no one has really tackled this yet, but it is time to start.