Getting a tattoo while intoxicated?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (38723)
July 9, 2022 3:33pm CST
One of my friends has a son who is fairly addicted to getting as many tattoos as possible. This has become a huge issue, it really is an addiction for him.
He got completely wasted last week and had the F word tattoo put on his hand. Some 'friend' of his did this, not in a tattoo shop. It's huge. He spends all of his money on tattoos, and more tattoos. He didn't pay his rent for months, so he was evicted. He stayed in his car and didn't tell his family. Now he is going to lose his car, because he spent the money for the payments on more tattoos. His family has about given up on trying to get him to be sensible. Now he has an infection in his new hand tattoo. He is currently at the ER, his mom told us his hand is really swollen and inflamed, they are going to admit him.
I didn't realize a person could get so obsessed with body art. I just hope he can get his act together and get back on his feet again.
18 people like this
17 responses
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
10 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle That’s it exactly. Young people get tattoos not thinking of how it will look years later.
5 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
@RubyHawk
I personally never want any. One of my daughters has several. She got them when she divorced her husband years ago. He was very controlling and abusive to her. I know she did it just because it was a declaration of freedom. She's never gotten any more, one on her shoulder and some small ones on her arm. I am thankful that's all there is, but I didn't critisize them, I know she is an adult and it's her choice, of course.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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9 Jul 22
Or when age kicks in and they get saggy with wrinkles, how they could look then? Unless they just don't care, which is probably the case.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
His parents and family are really hoping this jolts him back to reality. Something has to.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (71803)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Jul 22
I wish him the best of luck. I know it can be a bit difficult.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71803)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle I know and understand. But they need to be the one to take that first step.
@sjvg1976 (41290)
• Delhi, India
10 Jul 22
I never like tattoos and the people who get them all over their body, they look so ugly to me, I don't know what they look like to others. My kids sometimes insist on making tattoos on their bodies, I take them to a shop and get them temporary tattoos. Addiction to anything is bad.
I wish this boy gets rid of this addiction soon.
4 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41290)
• Delhi, India
10 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle sorry for him. He should be careful next time.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
I don't care for them either, but some people just love them. And spend big, big money on them. I hope he heals, his hand isn't looking good right now, he's in surgery.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
@sjvg1976
I am, too, as it's going to be painful and probably a long recovery. But he is going to have to change his ways. He's a college graduate with a degree in engineering, and is very book smart. Obviously, no common sense, however.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
9 Jul 22
I never cared for tattoos but I did get some piercings but never while drunk. (My piercings are still in.)
While Pretty was in college she got one tattoo and a bunch of piercings. She's taken most of the piercings out now (She been out of college for 10 years.) and doesn't seem to want any more of either one.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
10 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle Tattoos in Missouri have to have a parent's signature before 18 and it's illegal to drink here until 21. Of course, that doesn't stop either from happening before those ages.
My first piercing was when I was 28.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
I personally think it should be a law to be 21 to get a tattoo anywhere at all, but hey, no one ever asked me. Sounds like you did well with your piercings.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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11 Jul 22
@DaddyEvil
No, it unfortunately doesn't stop people from getting them. Kind of like anything that is illegal, it usually seems that if someone really wants something, legal or not, often they find a way to get what they want.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104192)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Jul 22
I hope so as well since being obsessed with body art and not being able to pay the bills is no way to live a happy life.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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9 Jul 22
That's for sure. I guess there are addictions for many things we don't really think about now.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104192)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle I like certain items but I am careful to buy my needs first over my wants.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
@Deepizzaguy
I am the same way. We pay the things we need to pay and no wants unless there is money for them. If you want something big, you save for it if at all possible.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182204)
• United States
9 Jul 22
I think he needs psychological help. His obcession is detrimental to his life.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
He does need that. Let's hope he gets it. I know that his mother said they will not help him unless he goes for help when he does get out of the hospital. They are operating on his hand, they called in a specialist.
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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12 Jul 22
He is still there. They took him back into surgery yesterday to remove more infection. Not good.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51393)
• Canada
9 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle I do not wish him any harm, but I do hope that this scares him enough to take life a little more seriously. He could end up with Hep C or at the very least covid by the sounds of things.
I feel for his mother, she is lucky that she has a good friendship with you and can lean on you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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9 Jul 22
@Juliaacv
I feel badly for her. He has made poor choices. She said that herself. We are hoping this scares him enough to just stop and be responsible for himself and his health.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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9 Jul 22
The doctor who treated him called his mother, my friend. He told him he needed to speak to a next of kin and the kid finally gave him his mom's phone number. He told her they were running tests to see what type of infection he has. And that he has to stay there in the hospital for now. She cannot go in to see him as the Covid cases are high where they are.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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11 Jul 22
Yes, it is hard to think of putting something on our bodies like that for the rest of our life. I mean, it's not like we can just get tired of it. It's simply there.
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
11 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle Oh my, I do not want to see one. I have seen an old man with tattoos on his arms, they looked horrible with his wrinkled skin.
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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11 Jul 22
They will probably find out just how they will look.
Especially the ''tramp stamps''. Oh, my.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16501)
• Raurkela, India
10 Jul 22
His parents could have guarded him when he started all these. It's too late now. The tattoo ink might have entered it blood stream and posioned his blood.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16501)
• Raurkela, India
11 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle So his parents and doctors can just carry on keeping him safe which may be very difficult.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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11 Jul 22
@aninditasen
He is in the hospital still. The hospital has a psych unit there that is well thought of. They are trying to get it lined up that he will be admitted to that when he is done with the medical stuff. I sure hope so.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
He is a grown man. They love him and they did try. He made his own choices.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
11 Jul 22
Wow, he really is addicted to tattoos. I hope his hand heals up and maybe he learns something from this.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
11 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle It must be extremely infected for them to keep him there.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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15 Jul 22
@misunderstood_zombie
He waited way too long to tell anyone he was so sick from it. At least, that's what his doctor said. He was told today that when there is some healing and when he is completely clear from the infection, there would be a discussion of a skin graft. He isn't happy. Actions do have consequences.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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11 Jul 22
I hope so. They did surgery in the night on his hand, and he is in the hospital still.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14694)
• Hong Kong
10 Jul 22
Obsession to such an extent is a sickness. He definitely needs professional help.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
There seems to be all types of obsessions and addictions, every day I hear about others. We usually just think of the ones that are the most prevalent, but there are many.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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11 Jul 22
@Beestring
Yes, I observed that first hand in a friend's grandson. He literally went nuts if the internet went down or he couldn't play his game. He dropped out of school. He never left the house. He was truly addicted to his game in every way. He finally went to rehab. That was a few years back.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14694)
• Hong Kong
11 Jul 22
@MarieCoyle Indeed, there are all types of obsession. Some kids here are addicted to playing online games so much that they need professional help.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Jul 22
Sad thing about any addiction, it interferes with our ability to meet responsibilities. I hope they can get the infection stopped and he does not lose his hand.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
That's the big concern right now. His family is very upset of course. They did try to get him to get some help with this.
@choijungeun (2629)
• Hangzhou, China
10 Jul 22
i never like or get tattoos.It's hard to wash off if you regret.Meantime,if your heart is confident and strong enough,you don't need the tattoos to show yourself,that will make yourself look weak.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
Yes, real tattoos do not ever wash off. They are just there. They might fade a bit, but they don't go away on their own.
@MarieCoyle (38723)
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10 Jul 22
To be clear, I know people love their tattoos. That's fine, it's their body, not mine. But when you lose everything and spend all your money on them and can't buy food or pay rent, it's an addiction.
