WARNING: The Choking Game

Teachable Parenting Moment Tuesday

Each Tuesday I would like to take a look at some alarming child and adolescent behaviors. Whether you're a parent, teacher, and/or child and youth worker, it may be something you should know and/or pass along to a friend.  For the next few weeks I will be discussing and sharing information regarding The Choking Game.

My first encounter with the Choking Game was approximately around this time last year. While interning at a counseling agency, I co-facilitated a group for adolescents and their family. During downtime, two adolescents participating in the group decided that they wanted to discuss and demonstrate their experiences with playing the "game." One proceeded to place her hands around the neck of the other, and smiled and laughed with excitement about the euphoria the other would experience. Another participant alerted staff and parents of the dangers of the game. I instantly thought to myself, "are these kids serious . . . are these the risk they are taking these days. . . SERIOUSLY???" 

However, this was not a new phenomenon among adolescent risk behaviors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports incidents of the risk behavior as earliest as 1995. In the CDC's The Choking Game: Risky Youth Behavior feature, they indicate that "the choking game is a dangerous activity that older children and early adolescents sometimes play to get a brief high. They either choke each other or use a noose to choke themselves. After just a short time, children can pass out, which may lead to serious injury or even death" (CDC, 2008).

The CDC completed an additional report, Unintentional Strangulation Deaths from the "Choking Game" Among Youth Aged 6--19 Years---United States, 1995--2007. In that report, the CDC's data only attributed a probability of 82 deaths to the "game," but continued that "death certificates lacked the detail necessary to distinguish chocking-game deaths from other unintentional strangulation deaths" (CDC, 2008). Although the number of deaths between 1995 to 2007 appear relatively low, it does bring to light some of the enemy's devices and strategies in bringing premature death and destruction to children and adolescents.

I must admit, while writing this, my heart is filled with a righteous indignation and desire to arm parents, educators, and other caregivers with information to protect and sustain our future generation. So, lets arm ourselves with these truths:

• The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV (The words of our Wonderful Counselor!!!)
• For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
• Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV 

Next Tuesday, I'll highlight more details regarding the Choking Game and provide more biblical insight to aid any children and adolescents who may be engaged in this and other risky behaviors.

Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5977173n
www.cdc.gov/Features/ChokingGame
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5706a1.htm