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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- "They say it's not dangerous. They say you can't die from it, we're just going to have fun. I would talk to them and say, 'Don't do that, my sister passed away from that,'" said Domanic Rivera Burcihel.

One Colorado Springs teen died last July playing the "choking game" and now her family is using the tragedy to warn others.

The choking game is when people choke each other or themselves to get a brief high that comes from the change in blood flow to the brain.

The CDC says at least 82 teens have died playing the choking game, but one nonprofit, Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play (G.A.S.P.), estimates the death toll is much higher, in excess of 400 kids.

The game has many names -- from the choking game to the pass-out game, airplaning, the American dream and blackout.

The activity has also been coined "the good kids game." That's because victims are often not problem kids but high achieving tweens and teens.

"She was the clown. She made everybody laugh," said 16-year-old Samantha Marquez's mother, Michelle Rivera.

Marquez was a great kid with a dangerous pastime called the choking game, according to her mother.

"I looked in her closet and saw her standing. I looked and saw her legs were black and blue, and then I realized she was hanging," Rivera said.

The coroner ruled Marquez's death a suicide.

"At that point I had talked to her friends, and I found out about the choking game. And I knew he was absolutely wrong," Rivera said. "There were never any signs anything was wrong as far as her doing this intentionally."

Marquez exhibited the typical signs of someone playing the choking game. Those include marks on the neck, bloodshot eyes and frequent headaches.

Most kids like Marquez don't see the risks of the game.

"It's not illegal. Samantha did this 10 feet from my bedroom. I think if it had been drugs or drinking she would not have been doing that," Rivera said.

Marquez's friend Sam played the same game but survived.

"I was at my friend's house. They gave me some string and you pull both sides hard until you feel yourself about to pass out. Then you feel dizzy afterward. I didn't think nobody could die over it," said Samuel Welch.

"Kids would plan to do the choking game for the weekend. It's not fun at all. It's scary," Burcihel said.

Rivera has started a nonprofit organization called "Remember 2 Breathe" because of this tragedy.

Her goal is to educate the community so no one else's family has to suffer at the hands of the choking game.

Rivera travels to different schools and organization talking about her experience and educating people about the choking game.

To schedule a presentation with Remember 2 Breathe or make a donation, e-mail to: smrivera@remember2breathe.org or call 719-358-0651.