Local Kids Are Playing `Choking Game'

Racine Journal Times (Racine, WI): Local teenagers, and maybe even younger children, have participated in the "choking game," according to a local expert. Dr. Heather Martens said her clients have told her that local teenagers will cut off the flow of blood to their head to get a "high." While the act has several names, it's commonly referred to as the "choking game." It's not new - it's been done at parties for generations - there seems to be a troubling trend of some teens choking themselves while alone. In October, a 13-year-old in the Appleton area died after using a belt to cut off blood to his head. Locally, Martens said it's important for parents, and teenagers, to know that the choking game is occurring, and that it is dangerous. "Communication is the key," she said. "It's more prevalent than adults know." The act is typically related to peer pressure or low self-esteem, Martens said. What's particularly dangerous about choking, she added, is that there are few warning signs. One of the appealing things about the "high" is that it doesn't require alcohol or drugs. If parents suspect their children are choking themselves, they should try to talk with them. If the children don't respond, parents should consider sending them to a trained therapist, who can address underlying symptoms that may lead to future addictive behaviors. Young adults who are concerned about choking should talk with an adult, like their parents or a school counselor.