Chemical cosh is a primarily UK term. To cosh someone in British speak means to bang them on the head, producing either unconsciousness or sedation. Chemical cosh tends to mean using medications to sedate people, when such sedation is unnecessary. The term has also been used to describe the effects of Ritalin on children, which many argue is necessary for children with certain attentional disorders.

Mostly, chemical cosh has referred to the overmedication with strong antipsychotic medications of the elderly and in some cases of prisoners. In particular, studies done on elderly patients with dementia treated with medications like haloperidol, risperidone and thioridazine have shown alarming results. These medications have been primarily given not because these patients need antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications but to create calmer patients. The trouble with this practice according to research released in 2007 is that many antipsychotic drugs have exceptionally heavy side effects, and that they almost double the risk for stroke in the elderly.

A study conducted over a three-year period by Professor Clive Ballard caused great concern. To some it translated as deliberately creating a chemical cosh to intentionally shorten the lives of people with dementia. Defenders of the use of these drugs state that they only give these medication when absolutely necessary, in order to help patients who cannot be controlled by other means. Ballard’s study on chemical cosh in the elderly raised questions about the long term use of these medications even for those who may truly need them, and it does alarm some people that use of such medications when unnecessary are potentially a long-term form of euthanasia.

Other studies released earlier show routine medication in certain countries of prisoners, to create the chemical cosh of sedate behavior. Yet since these medications are known to create side effects, which can last after taking the drugs, some critics see forcing prisoners to take such medications as potentially torture. They argue strenuously for such methods to end.

As it relates to Ritalin, chemical cosh is usually pejorative and tends to express the attitude that healthy children are being drugged into compliance and sedate behavior, if they deviate in any way from “most other kids.” There are certainly arguments for and against the use of ADD medications. Some medical experts do concede that these medications may be overused in some areas, and underutilized in others. In other words, they are sometimes used as a chemical cosh, and at other times, they are not used when a person legitimately would benefit from them.