Not That Much of a Game
Written by Audrey Roy on 19/08/10
Photo by Dominique Houle
On June 17 2010, a young boy from Quebec died by accidentally choking himself to death (Ottawa Citizen). His death resulted from a newly popular pastime among youth, “the choking game” – a game that involves using strangulation in order to cause euphoria. Its effect is similar to that of drugs in that it can cause hallucinations, a sense of dizziness and a physical thrill. Young adolescents are usually introduced to this game in a group; however, the game can become addictive and some youth eventually start playing it alone with the help of a rope, leash, belt, etc (GASPinfo).
In Canada, 64 incidents have been reported and 54 deaths (GASPinfo). Dr. Andrew Mcnab from Vancouver conducted the first study on this phenomenon and published the first report in 2001 where he states that “we only see the tip of the iceberg and it’s a lot more common [than we think]” (CBC).
Why is it dangerous?
First of all, when someone stops him or herself from breathing, it cuts off the oxygen and blood supply to the brain. This leads to cell damage, which can result in the loss of some physical or mental abilities like reading and talking. More seriously, it can cause paralysis of parts of the body and can even result in death (CBC).
If young people decide to play this game alone, there is no one who can call for help if something goes wrong, When they pass out (after choking themselves), they tend to fall down and the weight of their body can pull the rope tighter, which can result in death (GASPinfo). The choking game has had deadly consequences for many young people: you can find some true (and unfortunate) stories on this website.
How can you help?
If you suspect that a friend is playing this game, you can look for warning signs such as red marks on the neck, severe and persistent headaches, presence of a rope, leash or belt in his/her room or a sudden curiosity about the consequences of strangulation (GASPinfo). Be proactive and warn him or her about the danger of the choking game and refer him/her to this website where he/she can read about its permanent effects. Finally, tell an adult about your concerns: they can take the appropriate steps to make sure your friend stays safe.
Now that you know more about the choking game, raise awareness in your school and community by informing others about its dangers.
