Final answer:
Late-onset as it applies to chemical dependency refers to elderly people who develop chemical dependency late in life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'late-onset' as it applies to chemical dependency refers to elderly people who develop chemical dependency late in life. Late-onset addiction can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as experiences of loss or loneliness, retirement, or chronic pain. For example, a person who starts drinking heavily in their later years and develops alcohol dependency would be considered to have a late-onset addiction.