A t least 79,000 elementary and high school students in Ontario say they've tried the choking game, a dangerous activity in which a person self-asphyxiates or has someone else choke them, a new survey of adolescent behaviour has found.

The game, which produces a euphoric high, involves cutting off blood flow to the brain. It can be fatal.

The 2007 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey released Wednesday by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found that 79,000 kids in Grades 7 to 12 have participated in the choking game.

Questions about the choking game are new in the survey and were added to reflect the growing trend, say its authors.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 82 choking-game deaths occurred among U.S. youth age 6 -19 between 1995 and 2007. Seventy-one (86.6 per cent) of those who died were male, and the mean age was 13.3.

"We included questions on the choking game and video gaming to reflect the ever-changing behavioural patterns of young Ontarians," said Dr. Jurgen Rehm, senior scientist at CAMH in Toronto, in a news release.

"Overall, the results are not alarming but indicate that Ontario youth overall show a relatively high degree of distress and potentially self-harming behaviour."

The report also reveals troubling rates of mental health problems. It found that approximately three per cent, or 35,000, of students surveyed attempted suicide last year. And about one in 10 students say their mental health is poor.

Choking game can be prevented

Preventing tragedies brought on by the choking game involves dialogue about its dangers, says Dr. David Wolfe, director of CAMH's Centre for Prevention Science.

"Activities such as the choking game are not new, but it is important that parents are aware of these behaviours and are prepared to speak with their children about the dangers of these and other risky activities."

The CDC says parents should watch for possible warning signs that their kids are participating in the choking game:

  • Discussion of the game, including other names for it, such as "pass-out game" or "space monkey."
  • Bloodshot eyes.
  • Marks on the neck.
  • Severe headaches.
  • Disorientation after spending time alone.
  • Ropes, scarves and belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor.
  • The unexplained presence of dog leashes, choke collars and bungee cords.