"The Choking Game" And I thought drugs were a danger to my teens

wow - i read this article and thought... "oh come on, who would be so stupid to do this"... and then I read the comments.

Unfortunately it looks like people do do it. I am shocked and saddenned.

I am 43 now and when I was in highschool at a summer swing choir camp that was being done. When I saw this title I knew when I opened it it would be this stupid ole thing again.

Everyone was doing it and by the end of the week I tried it. I did pass out and when I awoke I was scared to death, had never passed out before and was so frightened and unaware of what had happened while I was out or how long I was out. It was only seconds.

The older boy who I liked and had let do this to me with my firnds circled around me felt badly when he saw my reaction after being aroused. The funny thing is that I will never forget what he then said to me. He said you have never done drugs or drank till you passed out have you? He then appoligized. I felt very uncool then after his question but my firnds knew the truth that I hadn't

If this trend is making a comback I will be telling my boys now and saying something like it kills brain cells and how scary it can be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for this article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we were in high school a similar game was played, you didn't choke each other, but you held your breath and someone hugged you really tight, when they let go, you would faint. I never did this myself, but i did see alot of kids doing it. How scary to think that teens are now using belts and ties.

My nephew's daughter died last month from this.  She was only 13.  There is a petition asking for signatures so this can be taught in schools along with the DARE program.  Please sign it.  Perhaps the life it saves will be your child's.  Thanks so much. 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/611538404

When I was at school (the '80s) there was a craze called 'chroming' which involved spraying the contents of an aerosol can into a paper bag, then breathing in and out of the bag until you got dizzy or something, then you spun around and squatted before standing up in a hurry to get a so-called rush...

Seems kids will always be trying to find the edge of that metaphorical envelope...Whether it's by engaging in this kind of 'game' or by driving on a winding road as fast as they can, they will always be good at finding ways to harm themselves. All us 'grown-ups' can do is be vigilant and ensure they know about risks and consequences...

Matt,

I've heard of people doing things like this, various ways to try & make each other pass out, or get to that point & bring them back just in time. Even though this isn't an actual drug, its seemingly another way for people to get 'high'. I think its ridiculous. Thanks for making us aware of this, well written. *

Just a little comment to let you know that actually this game exists for quite a while. The first time I've seen kids do that I was about...9!! I'm 25 now so this game has been around some time already. Fortunately, my mum also saw kids as they were pressing hard on their throat with their thumb. She used to be a nurse and she told them all the dangers of such a game in a very calm way. She also explained everything to my brother, my sister and I when we came back home and she must have found the right words, 'cause we've never even been tempted to have a go.

The only piece of advice I could give here is to try to talk to them very calmly and not be afraid of telling them what happens when you 'lose' the game. That what we've been told and it worked very well for us.
And I'm thinking, if your kids have a big sister/brother or an aunt/uncle they like very much and are often with, it might be a good idea to let them talk to them about this 'game' (I know my sister listened better to adults who were not my parents).

A friend over in the states lost their son last nealy two years ago through this game. It shocking and dangerous -

Thanks for bringing this to everyones attention

Luv

OB

OMG!!! What next??

some of the things our teens are doing these days is unbelievable . . . Thanks for the heads up I'll certainly be watching out for it . ..

Cheers Kellz

Why would they do this? To think that anyone would be this stupid. OMG.

Thanks angie I know I will be watching for it

 Lexi xxx

What would I do without the likes of you to inform me on these things? I have one child and she is only 3 so these are things that are a long way off for me, but it still pays to be informed. I have said all along that "education is the key to everything".  Although I never tried smoking, that's the worst thing any of my friends ever did.  If sneaking a ciggy every so often was the worst thing they could have done then I was in with some good friends. Also I went to a Catholic school in a small town which helps matters alot. Even if we tried anything like this it would get back to our parents because everyone knew everyone.  I'm in a city now with my daughter so I have the worry that she doesn't have the small community to watch over her like I had.  Kids really need to wrapped in cotton wool to keep them safe don't they?

Thanks Angie, you are a very in tune and informed woman.  You pay lots of attention to what your kids are up to and always do your best to protect them and keep them safe even if that is only to inform them of the possible dangers and let them then make their own decisions.  Well done.

omg man they must get stupider the older they get... i cant say that there was anything like this when i went to school, we sneeked the odd drink but that was it... mind you i was in a good croud of kids (nerds hehehe) wow it's so hard to believe that anyone could be that stupid... what makes them do it, i mean they must be on somthing else that makes them think that this is ok and fun??? it's attempted murder really, sure the intent is different but that's exactly what it is... omg omg omg this totally out there. i am so glad that logan will have limited exposure to this type of behaviour because of homeschooling, he'll only have to deal with it for the last two years of highschool thankfully. and by then hopefully he is smart enough to see how stupid it is stii can't protect 'em forever.

omg kiall just told me about a thing they used to do at school because it was 'cool', you bend down with head between knees and hyperventilate for about 30 sec to a minute and stand up straight back to a wall and a friend would push firmly aginst chest for 2-3 sec and catch you as you collapse/pass out you wake 30 odd sec later with a similar high. sounds like a similar thing. personally i thought kiall would have known better but there you go even the smart ones can be dumb when there's peer pressure involved. guess i better read up on all this stuff...

:)'s for you angie, another great article.