“Chemical cosh” refers to sedating someone with drugs, often used to describe the overmedication of elderly patients with dementia or prisoners. It has also been used pejoratively to describe the use of ADD/ADHD medications on children. Severe side effects and concerns about intentional shortening of lives have been raised.
“Chemical cosh” is a term mostly used by the British. To cosh someone means to bang them on the head, causing the person to be sedated or unconscious. A chemical cosh, therefore, refers to the sedation of someone with a chemical or drug. The term is generally used to refer to a situation in which sedation is not needed, but it has also been used to describe the effects of certain similar medications prescribed to children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Hypermedicated patients
More frequently, the term “chemical cosh” is used to refer to inmates or senior citizens on strong antipsychotic medications. A few studies have been done to research this issue as it pertains to elderly patients with dementia who are taking certain medications. The findings suggest that these drugs could be prescribed not so much to treat dementia but rather to serve as tranquilizers, to calm or sedate patients. The problem with this practice, according to some research, is that many antipsychotic drugs have exceptionally severe side effects, including a doubling of the risk of stroke in the elderly.
Concerns raised
Other research has uncovered some realities that cause great concern in both the medical community and the general public. For some people, the study showed that chemical cosmetics have been used to intentionally shorten the lives of people with dementia. Those who defend the practice of prescribing antipsychotics to dementia patients argue that these drugs are only prescribed when absolutely necessary, to help patients who cannot be controlled by other means. The research has raised questions about the long-term use of these drugs, even for patients who may actually need them. Some critics argue that prescribing these drugs is akin to a form of long-term euthanasia.
Use on prisoners
Some countries are believed to sedate prisoners with chemical drugs on a regular basis. Mainly because of the potential side effects of the drugs, some critics view this practice as a form of torture. Some have strongly advocated that these practices cease.
Treat the children
Referring to the use of the drug ADD as a chemical cosh is usually done pejoratively. Such claims are usually made to express the attitude that this is a practice of drugging otherwise healthy children into calm behavior just because they don’t behave in a preferred way. There are arguments for and against the use of ADD and ADHD medications, and some medical experts have argued that these medications may be overused in some areas and underutilized in others.
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