Multiple Tattooing—An Endorphin Rush or Hobby?
Written by Tonya Barnes, Hazelwood East High School | 
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When the patrons at T-Doggs start talking about
addiction, it’s not the old favorites that you hear mentioned. Instead, they’re speaking of tattoos,
the growing fad that just won’t stop.
T-Doggs is a piercing and tattoo parlor
north of St. Louis. Tony, the
owner and tattoo artist, tells SciJourner that some of their patrons have over 50
tattoos; and they are not stopping there.
“I
feel a release during the tattooing process,” claims Tandalya. “While I’m
getting tattooed, I’m already looking to see what tattoo I’m going to get
next.”
Natalie,
a University of Missouri-St. Louis college student, claims she felt a rush
after each tattoo experience.
What
is this rush or release that they are referring to? According to MedicineNet.com, an online healthcare media
publishing company, when the body is experiencing tremendous pain, it naturally
releases endorphins, pain-relieving proteins, into the bloodstream. Once
endorphins are released, they bind to opiate receptors in the brain.
This
arrangement causes the person to feel less pain. In addition to suppressing the pain, endorphins can make you
feel euphoric. The amount of
endorphins released by the body varies from person to person.
Although
people with multiple tattoos agree that it is addictive, their reasons for the
addiction vary.
Tandalya
has 14 tattoos and says that she uses the tattooing experience as a stress
reliever. Natalie, an UMSL student
with 2 leg tattoos, states that she uses the tattooing process as a way “to
step out of depression”. Tony, who
has full body tattoos, says he got multiple tattoos to balance out the art on
his body. Rosemary attributes her
multiple tattooing, currently 7, as a form of expression that allows her to
rebel in an acceptable manner.
The
tattoo industry is growing with over 15,000 tattoo parlors within the United
States, according to U.S. News and World Report. Tattoo artist are receiving positive
publicity by sporting their talent on popular television shows, like Miami Ink
and LA Ink.
A
2003 Harris Poll report indicated that about 40 million Americans have at least
one tattoo compared to only 10 million Americans in 1936. More recently, a 2006 study by the Pew Research Center found that around 36% of Generation Next (born between the years 1981-1988) and 40% of Generation X (years 1966-1980) have at least one tattoo.
Generation
X and Generation Next are bombarding the tattoo parlors. Wherever there is a gathering,
tattooing is sure to be a conversational piece. Regardless of the tremendous pain that they claim to feel, a
lot of people from this age group end up with multiple tattoos. With this growing fad some are
wondering if tattooing is a true addiction, due to an endorphin rush, or
because they just like it.
The
patrons at T-Dogg all admit that they did feel a rush either during or after
the tattooing process, but the rush isn’t intense enough to make tattooing an
addiction, they say.
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 KiOntey says: 2010-Jun-28 10:31
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 Overall this was a very interesting article but I personally wouldn't get a tattoo because it seems like there could be an addiction forming. But while I was reading I noticed that a few things were not clearly explained and that some of the references were not able to be recognized of who those people were and how they were important to the story.
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Ariel Stavri says: 2010-Jun-28 10:31
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Daphne says: 2010-Jun-28 10:30
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Romiyus says: 2010-Jun-28 10:17
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 I believe that tattoos are not addicting. They are a way to express yourself. Its their bodies and they should be allowed to do whatever they want. If it makes them happy then they should be able to do it. I don't have any tattoos but I plan on getting one. Anyway I love the article and I plan reading more about it.
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Last Updated (Monday, 28 June 2010 13:32)
