Tri-Meth
Here's a wild one: If you ride certain routes on Tri-Met at night, you're breathing methaphetamine, and probably fentanyl too. And wash your hands good when you get where you're going.
A recent study revealed that drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are found in the air and on the surfaces of public transit vehicles in Oregon and Washington.
Although researchers determined that the small traces of drugs weren’t enough to pose a health risk to passengers or drivers, TriMet is still looking to crack down on drug use in its vehicles.
The University of Washington conducted this study with funding from five transit services: TriMet, King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit.
On 28 nights from March 27 to June 22 of this year, researchers gathered air and surface samples of fentanyl and methamphetamine in 11 buses and 19 train cars.
The data was collected during times and routes that transit employees identified as popular for drug use. Additionally, the samples were taken near operators and other areas where smoke typically accumulates....
Across all of the transit vehicles, 98% of the surface samples and 100% of the air samples tested positive for methamphetamine. For the fentanyl tests, 46% of the surface samples were positive and 25% of the air samples were positive.
I was an enthusiastic Tri-Met rider at one point. Had the app on my phone, was even enjoying the senior discount. But those days are over. If I can't drive, it's Uber über Alles. I'll never go back.
As for Tri-Met cracking down on drug use, even if they were serious about it, aren't they forbidden by state law from infringing on anyone's God-given right to take hard drugs in public? If the City Council can't do it, how can the transit district board of directors? All ludicrous questions to be asking, but hey, it's Portland, Oregon.
Excellent comment Jack! 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteKeep Portlandia weird!
Astute and perspicacious commentary from Professor Bog (and his followers) is what keeps me coming to this website. It's amusing that Portlanders FREAK OUT about the possiblity of whiffing a bit of harmless "second-hand smoke" from a Lucky Strike or Camel cigarette... yet are meekly sanguine about inhaling nasty drug fumes from meth, fentanyl, and potent high THC marijuana, publicly smoked by violent street criminals and thieving dope addicts.
DeleteI hope somebody is keeping notes as to the telltale signs of society in decline.
ReplyDeleteTri-met once said “nothing to see here. Move along”
ReplyDeleteThey’ve changed to “ What you see here is of no consequence. Move along”
In my frequent travels across the US, I’ve noticed that life doesn’t have to be like it is in Portland. I’ll come back to the Democrat party when the moderates are back in charge here. This is not the political party I loved for most of my life.
ReplyDeleteYou’ve loved it without knowing what it’s called?
DeleteI still take the bus regularly and the service has become much more reliable, but they are dealing with a very tough problem with no real teeth to fix it. The later the night, the more the zombies come out so very rarely do I venture too far in the wee hours.
ReplyDeleteSadly another sign of the decline. That mountain of trouble keeps getting steeper, dirtier, and direr.
I used to regularly ride the buses and trains in downtown Portland with no safety concerns. Those days are gone. I have had my cellphone snatched, bag stolen, and been punched in the face (for no reason) by rambunctious urban youths. No more. I am too old to fight off a gang of aspiring rappers who want my wristwatch, wallet, cellphone and dignity.
Delete