The Hidden Epidemic Killing Twenty-Somethings

Posted by Brian

Autoerotic Asphyxiation kills more people than all rifles combined

The death of David Carradine in 2009 shocked the world.  Beloved for his role of "Kwai Shang Caine" in the classic hit television show Kung Fu, Carradine was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand from autoerotic asphyxiation.  This should have been a wakeup call to Americans and Congress that something needed to be done to prevent tragedies like this in the future. Similarly, the death of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence by the same means saddened people all over the world. Both were needless deaths.

Autoerotic asphyxiation is the act of intentional depriving of oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal.  Most commonly a rope is used to "hang" oneself to get the desired effect, though placing a plastic bag over the head is also common.

The Journal of Forensic Sciences states(1) that anywhere from 250 - 1000 deaths a year are result from this cause of death, though other studies have placed the figure from 500 - 1000.  The average age of the victim is 26.

That the media is completely ignoring this epidemic to our young adults is unconscionable!  While the press is fixated on making our children and young people safer by calling for, even demanding, that dangerous weapons such as AR-15's and "military-style" assault weapons be banned, a silent epidemic is killing our young people.  We used to be warned by our parents that masturbation would "cause you to go blind", but we now know that the weren't telling us the whole truth!  This crap can KILL you!

According to the FBI(3), 323 murders were committed with rifles combined in 2011, with another 356 committed with a shotgun.  Yet, up to 1,000 people a year are dying from putting a rope around their neck, or plastic bag over their head, and dying during one of the most intimate acts a person can perform, and the media is silent! Where is the President in our time of need!  He's talking assault weapons when the real killer is still out there!

It is for this reason that I am calling for a grassroots campaign to contact your Representative and Senators, both at the State and Federal levels, to educate them on this danger facing our young people, and demand that we have stronger laws and regulations on the purchase of rope and plastic bags! We need to demand that committees are formed to study the dangers of not only these two items, but that common household materials like Saran Wrap, large balloons, rubber gloves, shoelaces, and any and all other items that can be used to cut off oxygen to the brain during masturbation.  President Obama needs to go on a campaign-style tour of cities to awaken the people of this country to this needless carnage affecting our youth

Of course, we won't be able to pass laws and regulations that will prevent every death cause by this epidemic affecting our young people, but if the death of even one young unsuspecting man can be prevented, then we as a people can, with a clear conscience, say:

"I made a difference, because I CARE".

Phone Numbers:
U.S. Capital Switchboard:  (202) 224-3121
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414


(1) Uva, J. L. (1995). "Review: Autoerotic asphyxiation in the United States". Journal of Forensic Sciences 40 (4): 574–581.
(2) Health: When masturbation can be fatal: The practice of auto-erotic asphyxia is often concealed by a coroner's verdict. Monique Roffey looks at a lethal taboo
(3) More Club and Hammer  Homicides than Rifle