TriMet to participate in transit drug use study

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Portland, Oregon, announced earlier this month it will participate in a multi-agency study analyzing drug use on transit systems.

The study will focus on detecting, monitoring and assessing the effects of secondhand fentanyl smoke on and around transit systems. University of Washington researchers are conducting the study, TriMet officials said in a press release. Seattle's Sound Transit is also part of the study.

Researchers will collect air samples from devices strategically placed on trains and buses and use sampling kits to determine whether the substance smoked was an opioid or something else, TriMet officials said.

In 2021, Oregon reported a 41% increase in overdose deaths as the use of opioids like fentanyl and heroin surged, TriMet officials said.

The findings will be used to determine best practices to discourage drug use on transit systems.

"There is little in the way of concrete data about the health effects of secondhand fentanyl smoke or its impacts on a self-contained area, like a bus or train. While there have been studies about the risk of exposure to first responders, this is the first study of its kind to delve into public transit," TriMet officials said.

One year ago, TriMet changed its code of conduct to include noncriminal violations of laws or ordinance as actions prohibited on the transit system in an effort to discourage smoking.

The agency is increasing the number of police officers and security personnel on its transit system as part of its strategy to reduce illicit drug use.