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By Artemis Molai
The Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), the largest public transportation system of the Bay Area, has become a primary example of the region’s opioid crisis. For numerous commuters, witnessing drug use has become a regular sight throughout the day.
Drugs, such as fentanyl, are frequently seen on transit systems, leading to an increase in safety concerns. In recent years, overdoses have occurred at a more frequent pace. According to The San Francisco Standard, more than 19 overdoses took place on the BART premises during 2023, which was on pace to exceed the number of deaths in 2022.
Therefore, many passengers have stopped using BART because they feel unsafe. CBS News reported a decline in the number of passengers in 2023, stemming from public concerns regarding potential safety hazards and medical emergencies.
Students and young commuters who rely on BART may be especially affected. Witnessing adults struggling with opioid use disorder can be distressing for children and adolescents. A report in Clinical Therapeutics states that witnessing substance use will increase the likelihood that youth will develop substance use problems and mental health conditions. Additionally, these sights may contribute to adverse childhood experiences, where traumatic events lead to prolonged stress and psychological harm.
Yet, overdoses persist. As recently as December 2025, two passengers overdosed on separate BART trains in the East Bay within a two-day period.
In response to rising concerns, BART has implemented strategies to reduce harm throughout the rapid transit system, including increasing the number of Crisis Intervention Specialists (CIS) and equipping officers and other staff with naloxone (arcan) nasal sprays to reverse the effects of opioids and save lives. ABC 7 News shared that the amount of arcan spray deployment has multiplied since the initial introduction in May 2019.
By March 2024, these deployments had successfully saved more than 400 lives on BART premises, as annual deployments increased from 29 to 188 over the span of three years.
To further address the crisis, BART reports that its police officers receive training for the administration of Narcan. As BART officers keep Narcan in toolkits, these medications are used for reviving any individuals who have overdosed, and prevent fatalities.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
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