The Marion County Public Health Department has developed a new outreach program regarding tattooing and body piercing. MCPHD is responsible for licensing and inspecting all tattoo and body piercing businesses in Marion County. As you are probably well aware, body modification is increasingly popular among high school students. Studies suggest that approximately 10 percent of teenagers have tattoos. Thirty-six percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 have tattoos, according to the Pew Research Center. In addition, surveys of high school and college students suggest that 25-35 percent have body piercings.
Unfortunately, many of them are tattooed and pierced in unlicensed locations and in unsafe conditions. As a result, our office receives several complaints each year of teens getting these procedures without parental consent and in the artist’s house, garage, or even sheds. In an effort to educate teenagers about the risks involved, we have developed the following outreach material.
The outreach involves a short PowerPoint presentation and brochures, which can be handed out to each student. The presentation can be modified or tailored to fit the needs of your specific school or program. We highly recommend for this material to be incorporated into middle school and high school health classes to educate them on the importance of safe body modification.
MCPHD Brochure – What You Need to Know Before You Go: Body Modification
MCPHD Brochure – What You Need to Know Before You Go: Body Modification– (Spanish)
For bulk orders of the brochure free of charge, call 317.221.2266.
To request a hardcopy free of charge, call 317.221.2266.
Additional Resources
Indiana Law on Tattooing and Body Piercing Minors: IC 35-42-2-7
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