Study Suggest 'Choking Game' Widespread in Texas

According to Forbes Magazine, a study conducted by the Crime Victims Institute of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, suggests one out of every seven Texas college students has participated in "the choking game."

What is the choking game?

The choking game involves placing a rope or some other ligature around the neck and tightening it so the blood flow to the brain is cut off. The game causes backed-up blood rushes to the brain, producing a sense of euphoria. The rope or ligature is released just before the person it is being applied to passes out and possibly dies. The game is also called Pass Out, the Fainting Game, Dream Game, Airplaning, Purple Hazing, Flatlining or Space Monkey. The game is usually conducted in groups, though single individuals have been known to play. Virtually all deaths that have been ascribed to the choking game have occurred when young people play it alone.

The choking game is played by young people across the country as well as in Texas.

Is this like auto-erotic asphyxiation?

The procedure is almost the same, according to the Forensic Psychiatry page. The added element in auto-erotic asphyxiation is that the practitioner, either alone or with a partner, received sexual stimulation. The euphoric effects of the asphyxiation are supposed to add to the pleasure of the sexual experience. But the danger of choking to death while in the midst of passion is very real. Actor David Carradine was found in a Bangkok hotel room having died of accidental asphyxiation, possibly as a result of a sex game, according to People Magazine.

Is the danger similar for the choking game?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study examining 83 deaths as a result of the choking game. 86.6 percent were male. The victims ranged in ages from 6 to 19, with the medium age of 13. 3. The vast majority of the deaths occurred when the victim was alone.

Are there groups advocating awareness of the choking game?

There are several resources on the Internet for concerned parents who want to be aware of the signs that their children may be playing the choking game. The Dangerous Behavior Foundation lists some warning signs, which include severe and frequent headaches, marks on the neck, and locked bedrooms. A group called Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play advocates programs to discourage the choking game and to raise awareness.

Texas resident Mark Whittington writes about state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network