Recent figures indicate that increasing number of children and young people are being prescribed anti-depressants and "chemical cosh" drugs which could be affecting their health.

Data indicates that the number of prescriptions for ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder) medication issued to children has increased by one third since 2005. However the use of antidepressant in children under 16 has increased by six per cent.

There has been sharp increase in prescription for use of these drugs for older children. According to data, there has been 51 percent rise in prescriptions issued to older children in 2007.

It was found that more than 113,000 prescriptions for anti-depressants were issued to children under 16 in 2007 and nearly 108,000 prescriptions were issued to 16 to 18-year-olds. Data also revealed that more than 86,000 prescriptions for anti-psychotics were issued for children under the age of 18.

Anne Milton, Shadow Health Minister, said: “We already know that our children suffer the lowest levels of well-being in Europe. This data shows that increasingly health professionals are prescribing drugs to treat child mental health problems.”