blue star
(n) A wide-spread and long-lived ridiculous scare during the 1980s and 1990s about LSD laced tattoos using a blue star design. Supposedly temporary tattoos were handed out to unsuspecting middle school students during recess. The tattoos were said to leach LSD through the skin. Dozens of law enforcement agencies and health departments, starting with the New Jersey Police Department Narcotics Bureau in 1980, have issued warnings about this “blotter acid” -- none of which is remotely true. Over the years scores of different flyers have been handed out to local PTAs throughout the country, often produced at home by scared but well-meaning and clueless parents, asserting that LSD tattoos bearing the designs of Mickey Mouse (as Sorcerers Apprentice), butterflies, clowns, red pyramids, colored microdots, and even Bart Simpson, were making the rounds of local school yards. Law enforcement and health agencies now know the information was untrue, but the hoax still is recycled on use-net groups.
Ironic blow-back:
Many professional tatoo artists report that a favorite request is for blue star tattoos.
Many professional tatoo artists report that a favorite request is for blue star tattoos.
blue star by Bill Peters November 11, 2006
