The Choking Game

“The choking game is a dangerous practice of tweens and teens in which they self-strangulate in order to achieve a brief high. The high is the result of oxygen rushing back to the brain after it is cut off by the practice of strangulation.” (taken from http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/healthfitness/f/ChokingGame.htm)

Tweens and teens play this game in groups by physically choking each other and alone through use of belts, leashes, scarves, and ropes to strangle themselves. In a group, one teen chokes another until the “player” passes out. Then, the first teen releases the grip around the player. Alone, the player ties one end of a ligature around the neck and either pulls it tight or ties the other end around a door knob, bed post, curtain rod, or other object in an effort to strangle him or herself. The individual plans to release the ligature used to induce strangulation right before passing out. In some cases, the teen is unable to release the ligature from around the neck prior to passing out. In these instances, the individual dies from strangulation and/ or hanging.

The choking game is also referred to by several other names including the fainting game, Flat liner, Pass Out, Gasp, Suffocation Roulette, Blackout, and Hangman.

According to a recent study, 1/3 of all 8th graders reported knowing some one who had played this game. 6% of 8th graders reported playing it themselves. 40% of the kids surveyed said they saw no danger in playing this game. (from http://chokinggame.net/)

Many children who engage in this activity are intelligent, highly achieving adolescents who think this game is a safe alternative to using drugs or an easy way to achieve a high without getting caught using drugs. The game is usually played by teens age 9-16 but children as young as 6 have died playing it. It is suspected that 1% of all completed suicides are due to the choking game but in most causes this is a difficult distinction to make.
Risks associated with playing this game include seizures, broken bones, brain damage, memory loss, strokes, concussions, and death.
Signs and Symptoms include:
• Any suspicious mark or bruise on the neck, sometimes hidden by a turtleneck, scarf or permanently turned-up collar, or wearing clothing that covers the neck even in warm weather.
• Changes in personality, such as overtly aggressive, irritable, or agitated.
• Any kind of strap, rope or belt lying around near the child for no clear reason—and attempts to elude questions about such objects.
• Headaches (sometimes frequent and excruciatingly painful), loss of concentration, flushed face.
• Bloodshot eyes or any other noticeable signs of eye stress such as bleeding under the skin of the face or eyelids.
• Confusion or disorientation after being alone.
• A thud in the bedroom or against a wall—meaning a fall in cases of solitary practice.
• Any questions about the effects, sensations or dangers of strangulation.
• Wear marks on furniture (bed posts, door knobs, etc.)
• Linens or ropes tied around door knobs or furniture
• The frequent need for privacy
For more information: http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/healthfitness/f/ChokingGame.htm; http://chokinggame.net/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fainting_game; http://www.gaspinfo.com/en/home.html