Skip to main content
Skip to main content

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search »
  • Login
  • AAP Policy
  • Topic/Program Collections
  • Journal Info
  • Alerts
  • Contact Us
  • aap.org

Menu

  • AAP Grand Rounds
  • AAP News
  • Hospital Pediatrics
  • NeoReviews
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics in Review
  • Journal CME Quizzes
  • Pediatric Collections
  • AAP Career Center
  • Current AAP Policy
  • AAP Journals Catalog

AAP News

  • Merck HepB vaccine shortage extended through 2019
  • CDC flu report: 34 children have died
  • CDC: Flu vaccine 61% effective for children
  • Declining to answer suicide screening questions may signal risk
  • Programs aim to reduce health disparities among Native Americans, Alaska Natives

  • Login
  • AAP Policy
  • Topic/Program Collections
  • Journal Info
  • Alerts
  • Contact Us
  • aap.org

Advertising Disclaimer »

Tools and Links

Journals Blog
November 23, 2016

The Choking Game Is One That No One Ever Wins Playing

Dr Lewis First, MD, MA, Editor-in-Chief, Pediatrics

Several years ago, we ran a Pediatric Perspectives article on the “choking game” that highlighted its dangers ( 10.1542/peds.2009-1287). What is the game? It involves attempts to auto-strangulate or have others attempt to cut off a person’s air supply to the point where that someone passes out,  but it can also lead to death or serious permanent neurologic impairment.  This week we release a study by Ibrahim et al. ( 10.1542/peds.2016-0778) looking at the prevalence of this game being played through data obtained from surveys of more than 20,800 teens in eighth grade in Oregon. 

The study looked at outcomes from those who play the choking game alone as well as those who play it in a group.  Sadly the results suggest that close to 4% of eighth graders are playing the game with close to 20% playing it alone and not with friends or in a group.  The authors highlight the danger of these children playing the game alone by sharing other characteristics of this solo choking-game population-- including having high rates of suicide contemplation and poorer overall mental health.  

Do you ask your teen patients about whether they have ever played the choking game or know others who do?  This article may prompt you to do so.  The data are 3 years old. Do you think the prevalence of the game has increased or decreased the past few years?  We welcome your thoughts on what you are seeing relative to this game being played by your patients, and hope you will comment by responding to this blog, sharing a comment on our journal website or posting your thoughts on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Further Reading
  • Health Risks of Oregon Eighth-Grade Participants in the “Choking Game”: Results From a Population-Based Survey
  • Children accidentally choking themselves for a brief ‘high’
  • Pediatrics on Instagram
  • Pediatrics on Facebook
Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics

 

Advertising Disclaimer »

Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on AAP Gateway.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The Choking Game Is One That No One Ever Wins Playing
(Your Name) has sent you a message from AAP Gateway
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the AAP Gateway web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
2 + 11 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Share
The Choking Game Is One That No One Ever Wins Playing
Lewis First
AAP News Dec 1969,
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
PDF
  • Digital Edition Current Issue
  • Latest Daily News
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Columns
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe to AAP News Magazine
Back to top

     

Copyright © 2019 by American Academy of Pediatrics

International Access »

Terms of Use
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) takes the issue of privacy very seriously. See our Privacy Statement for information about how AAP collects, uses, safeguards and discloses the information collected on our Website from visitors and by means of technology.
FAQ

AAP Pediatrics