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One of my daughter's best friends "played" this game Wednesday night and DIED!

His family and friends are totally devastated. In the next 10 weeks my daughter has to figure out how to get through her 18th birthday, senior prom (she was supposed to go with him), and graduation, seeing his empty chair in classes every day, and passing by his locker multiple times a day.

This is the "game":

"The choking game, also known by large number of other names is not technically a game but a schoolyard activity involving the inducement of unconsciousness or near unconsciousness by restriction of the supply of oxygen to the brain. The highly dangerous activity is traditional and world-wide, passed down for generations in schoolyards, summer camps and neighborhoods. Practitioner demographics are strongly weighted towards juvenile males but includes females and adults of both genders. The activity has been responsible for a large number of juvenile deaths and permanent neurological disabilities almost entirely among the juvenile male cohort. There are estimates that as many as 250 to 1,000 young people die in the United States each year playing some variant of the choking game. Tracking the exact number is difficult because many of the cases are reported as suicides.

The attractions are manifold: it is done as a dare, it can induce a brief sense of euphoria, it is reported to enhance erotic feelings, it is amusing to some to watch others losing consciousness or behaving erratically, the prospect of an altered state of consciousness, the experience of a brownout or, more recently, copycatting elements of the film Flatliners. It is also free, legal and appears innocuous to those without a proper understanding of the mechanism involved." (Wikipedia)


I did something like this myself once in middle school and had a seizure. *Everyone* I have talked to about this in the last 24 hours knows of a child who has died doing this!

Please talk to your children, nieces, nephews, etc about this! It is NOT a game!

Has anyone out there ever played this game? Do you know anyone who has died or been injured by this?

First of all I myself suffer from seziures and loss of consciousness is not a game no matter if for a second or a few minutes. I have read your bio and know you know this. secondly, I think that some of the recent peer pressure "may" be coming from a special that ran on A&E last week it was an "Angel" marathon. (Angel the magician that is)(pretty sure that was the name) Anyway, one of his Magic tricks was he "in front of a half dozen medical professionals" slowed and stopped his pulse in 5 vital areas at the same time. I wonder if the kids are trying to copycat this trick.
Finally, to you and your daughter, I am sorry for your loss. I know how hard this must be on her but, if she is as strong as you seem to be don't worry she'll be fine. If she needs a shoulder to cry on though or an understanding older guy to cry to tell her to feel free to drop me a note. I would be more than happy to listen and help her through her hard times

This "game" has been going on for generations, a friend around my age was telling me her father and brothers played this as children, almost killing their younger brother once. Kids are learning it on the playground, from their siblings, at camp... I learned it at a slumber party in 6th grade (which was back in the late 1960's.)

It is a "game" for them if they do it in a controlled situation and get a high right before they pass out... it's a different set of circumstances that your involuntary one, you wouldn't get the high because your body is going through a different process.

Thank you for your sympathy. She is doing much better, she started back at school yesterday for the first time since we found out last week, and is flying to Holland tomorrow night with the family for the funeral.

oh yeah, I forgot to mention that along with my "involuntary" reasons, we also used to practice this kind of stuff in school also. also, at least 20 years ago, I can't explain where kids get the idea that because Mom and Dad tried and survived it must be O.K. I try and make sure that any child seeing me doing a foolish act knows the danger (trust me I am an actor in the MN Ren Fest and Danger is lurking around every corner out there)

lack of oxygen gets you high.. thus a adrenaline educing action that also gets you high. stupid idea but i have done it in the past when i was 12 quit because there are serious side effects you dont expect as a kid but seem common sense now stupid me