a Recent research from the University of Washington (UW) We uncover new insights into the prevalence of fentanyl and methamphetamine on Portland’s public transportation system.
A University of Washington study showed airborne residues of both drugs were present on buses and streetcars in Seattle and Portland, but the transit agency said the amounts were traceable, and some public Transportation leaders compared the amount of the substance detected to “a thousandth of a grain of sugar”—does not pose a threat to public health. The study also does not know whether the residue found in public transport vehicles was directly caused by people using drugs in the cars. Still, transit leaders believe the findings warrant action against public drug use on TriMet buses and streetcars.
September 7th, TriMet posted on social media Regarding future “crackdowns on public drug use,” he called on “state and local officials and legislators to implement policy changes and enforcement to curb this epidemic.”
“We know that public drug use on transit is a serious safety concern for our passengers and employees, which makes TriMet an attractive travel option,” the post said. Posted. The statement received mixed reviews, with some praising the agency for taking a strong stance and others expressing concern that TriMet would increase enforcement on public transportation.
TriMet outlined the plan in a blog post It listed measures to combat illegal drug use on public transport, including increasing the number of security personnel and working with local law enforcement agencies to combat drug use. The announcement comes on the heels of a unanimous vote by the Portland City Council to criminalize hard drug use, which would require changes to Oregon law.
With public transit ridership not returning to pre-pandemic levels, many transportation advocates are looking for solutions to get people back on buses. TriMet leaders think security enforcement could be part of the solution..
Many transportation experts acknowledge the addiction crisis in Portland, but advise caution and nuance when interpreting the California State University study’s findings. Some advocates warn against relying on police to combat addiction, arguing that it fails to address the root causes of the problem.
University of Washington research results
From March 27 to June 22, University of Wisconsin researchers collected air and surface samples for fentanyl and methamphetamine from 11 buses and 19 trains on public transit in Portland and Seattle. . Nearly all of the 78 air samples and 102 ground samples collected contained 100 percent and 98 percent detectable methamphetamine, respectively. The report shows that 25 percent of air samples and 46 percent of ground samples collected contained detectable fentanyl. However, the report notes, “Laboratory detection of fentanyl or methamphetamine does not mean it poses a health risk to drivers or the riding public.” .
The investigation was conducted after Seattle bus and streetcar operators filed a safety incident report regarding drug use on public transit vehicles. by seattle timesSome bus drivers “stopped driving due to headaches, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.”
It is unclear whether passive exposure to surface or air residues from fentanyl or methamphetamine can cause dangerous health outcomes. The University of Wisconsin report says the drug levels found in the study are unlikely to affect the general public, but passive exposure to fentanyl and methamphetamine is more likely to occur in vehicles. It is less clear whether or to what extent it may affect time-consuming transit operators.
This is not the first time TriMet has attempted to address drug use in transit vehicles. The agency last year sent a memo to employees about the effects of fentanyl use on public trains and buses, suggesting more traffic guards and other measures to combat allegations of drug use.
Much of the discussion surrounding the University of Wisconsin study suggests that the drug residue is the result of people smoking fentanyl or methamphetamine on public transportation, but this is not clear from the study. The University of Wisconsin researchers did not directly assess exposure determinants, such as whether a smoking event reliably occurred, during the trial. The researchers also noted that, among other limitations, the scope of the assessment was limited and “cannot be considered representative of all vehicles, routes, and trips both in the Pacific Northwest and nationwide.” are doing.
After this study was published, Oregon and Washington Poison Centers issue joint statement put [the] Oregon’s Poison Center is located at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).
“As medical toxicologists, physicians, and medical directors of the Washington and Oregon Poison Centers, we recognize that the results of this study are not surprising,” the statement said. . “Smoking in public places produces very small amounts of the substances, but modern laboratory methods can identify them in the air and on surfaces.”
The statement added that people using public transport “should continue to feel safe.”
Dr. Rob Hendrickson, medical director of the Oregon Poison Center, said at a press conference: [on public transit] It would be hundreds to thousands of times lower than the values expected to cause clinical effects. ”
Toxicology experts pointed out that the study aimed to determine whether the drug could be detected on public transportation. The results “reflect the current levels of drug use in our communities and serve as a reminder to communities to develop solutions to reduce drug use in the long term.”
But potential health effects aren’t the only issue. The Wisconsin study and public transportation leaders also pointed to the impact of perceived risks on riders and transportation. In this case, perceived threat may be the biggest factor influencing people’s decisions about whether to take public transportation.
Security and passenger numbers crisis
Like many other cities across the country, ridership on TriMet buses and MAX trains has declined since the pandemic began. While factors such as an increase in remote workers and ongoing concerns about COVID-19 likely play a large role, some TriMet leaders are pointing to drug use as the reason for the drop in ridership. It notes related public safety concerns.
Andrew Wilson, TriMet’s executive director of safety and security, spoke at the September 6 Portland City Council meeting in favor of banning public drug use in Portland.
“Behavioral health issues, substance use and addiction, and homelessness are converging in the communities we serve. [is] This will have a negative impact on passengers and employees. Mr Wilson said: “Despite our security efforts, open drug use has spilled over into our transport system. Public transport must be safe, especially for people who use it. is important.” Perception is often reality, and open drug use in and around transit creates the perception that transit is unsafe, negatively impacting transit ridership and downtown vitality. . ”
The Wisconsin study also recognized that perceived hazards are risks to drivers and the riding public.
“Observing drug use on a bus or train can induce stress and increase feelings of stress, anxiety, and job dissatisfaction,” the study said. “These feelings can be especially heightened for people who are in recovery or who have family members or loved ones affected by drug use.”
Security concerns on public transportation are not limited to drug use. Earlier this month, two 17-year-old boys were stabbed at a MAX platform in Portland’s Lentz neighborhood. Both of them survived with no life-threatening injuries. Police said the suspect was charged with assault and bias. He stabbed the boys for their ‘perception’ of their raceHowever, details regarding the victim’s race have not been made public.
Perhaps the most notable example of danger in the TriMet system occurred in 2017, when two men were killed after defending two black teenage girls from racist and Islamophobic assailants. , one person was seriously injured.
In the email to MercuryRoberta Altstadt, director of communications for TriMet, said the agency “would not be able to speculate” on a correlation between drug use and violent attacks.
Organizers with Bus Riders Unite (BRU), a public transit rider union sponsored by the Oregon Department of Environmental Justice OPAL, believe other causes are responsible for the decline in ridership. In the email to MercuryBRU organizers said after speaking with “dozens of transit-dependent riders” last weekend about their main concerns about TriMet, the main issue they heard from riders was recent system-wide fare increases. , reduced bus service and delays in transportation schedules.
“Not a single passenger spoke of illegal drug use on public transport,” BRU organizers wrote.
TriMet focuses on enhanced security and social services as a solution
TriMet’s proposed solutions to the drug epidemic on public transportation include increased police and non-police enforcement. In a Sept. 7 blog post, TriMet said it had doubled the number of security team personnel since the beginning of 2022 and that security personnel would “instruct anyone they witness smoking onboard the “Notify the supervisor or the police if there is a violation.” The blog post also said TriMet has 46 customer safety supervisors (unarmed patrol officers), compared to 18 last year.
The agency also relies on its safety response team. The team is a group of 58 employees who “connect people in need on and around the transportation system to social services such as shelters, mental health resources, and addiction services.”
Drug use isn’t the only violation TriMet wants to address with increased security. Safety supervisors will also enforce fares and “reduce inappropriate behavior and activity.” last month, TriMet begins restricting access to Hollywood Transit Center MAX platform Payment to customers who are required to pay a fare to use the elevator. The agency says the effort has helped “deter abuse” of the station and plans to widely expand the process system.
Transportation justice advocates support programs like safety response teams. But TriMet’s support for the Portland City Council’s more punitive approach to drug use could mean the agency is headed in a different direction — though the agency says it will “only do so when absolutely necessary.” “We want to reduce interactions with law enforcement that lead to criminal charges.”
Marisa Zapata, a professor of urban studies and planning at Portland State University (PSU), said not all efforts to improve safety are created equal.
“When you increase enforcement, some people feel less safe, and some people feel even safer,” Zapata said in an interview. Mercury. “The first question you have to ask is whose safety needs are you trying to meet?”
Zapata leads the PSU Homeless Research and Action Collaborative, which has researched the intersection of homelessness and public transportation. Homelessness and drug use are two different problems, he said, but addiction and homelessness can occur in cycles, and drug use by people living on the streets becomes more visible in public.
“The first thing we have to do is make sure we can provide stable housing,” Zapata said.
Another solution supported by both UW research and TriMet is enhanced filtration and cleaning protocols. Zapata pointed out that this would also help increase safety awareness for the presence of unhoused passengers in general.
“One of the consistent findings we have with homelessness is that if people are worried about things like leaving behind trash, they should be cleaning more,” Zapata said.
Enhanced cleaning and filtration mechanisms will also help combat an airborne threat that is still on the rise and is actually worsening as a new surge begins: the novel coronavirus. TriMet, like other public transit agencies across the country, lifted its mask mandate in April 2022.
“What else is there on trains that could actually pose a threat to public safety and health? How long is the coronavirus hanging in the air?” Zapata asked. “Is this the biggest issue in terms of what can be done on the train? My focus remains on coronavirus.”