The death of a 16-year old Australian girl after being choked during consensual intercourse has provoked new alarms over the pervasiveness of this risky practice among young people. Even non-lethal choking can lead to permanent brain injury, as a recent study establishes. A survey of 18-35 year old Australians revealed that well over half had experienced sexual choking and about half admit to having choked their partner during sex. Most said they learned about the practice through pornography and/or social media. Rather than calling for censorship of such pornography, as in the UK, public health authorities in Australia say the solution is better public messaging and sex education. Young people frequently complain about the inadequacy of sex education even on basic matters of sexual health. Where explicit, pleasure-oriented sex education is lacking, young people get their education from porn.
Sexual Choking Death Provokes New Calls for Better Sex Education
