Final answer:
It is true that substance abuse is underdiagnosed and underreported in older adults, which is a result of denial and inadequate screening among this demographic, potentially exacerbated by other health and societal issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is True: Substance abuse is indeed underdiagnosed and underreported in older adults due to the tendency among this demographic toward denial as well as inadequate screening. Several factors contribute to this issue, including societal attitudes towards substance abuse in older adults, the masking of symptoms by other medical conditions, and a general reluctance to discuss substance use issues among the elderly. Furthermore, health disparities in drug- and alcohol-use disorders indicate that the impact of abuse, whether reported or not, affects families and society profoundly.
Regarding elder abuse, statistics from U.S. studies suggest that approximately one in ten elderly people may have experienced some form of abuse. This abuse can be complicated by issues such as dementia, increasing vulnerability. Older women are often more prone to verbal abuse compared to their male counterparts. These findings align with the concerns about substance abuse underreporting within the older adult population.
Substance abuse contributes to serious societal problems such as child abuse and neglect. Children in families with substance abuse are at a markedly higher risk for mistreatment, showcasing how the repercussions of substance abuse extend beyond the individual to have detrimental effects on families and the social fabric.