Chemical restraint is regarded as negative and coercive behaviour inflicted on mental health consumers. The medical profession has defined its regular use of forced medication, against the preference of the consumer, not as chemical restraint but as “treatment”. It justifies that position by making a diagnosis and acting on a norm adopted by the medical profession.
However, in reality, the purpose of that intervention is to affect the consumer’s behaviour. The intervention is never applied to individuals whose behaviour does not draw attention to the authorities and medical profession.