Toxic Drug Supply
What major issue do most people usually think is Vancouver’s most expensive problem is?
List Three
Housing/inflation/cost of living
What type of market does the toxic drug supply operate in?
An unregulated / illegal market
What is a negative externality?
A cost imposed on others not directly involved in an activity
What is opportunity cost?
The value of the next best alternative forgone
What is the podcast’s central research question focused on?
Whether public funds are being allocated cost-effectively to reduce harm and deaths from the toxic drug crisis
What key economic concept explains why users can’t assess drug safety?
Information asymmetry
Name one public service strained by drug toxicity.
Emergency medical services / hospitals / policing / sanitation
Money spent responding to overdoses cannot be spent on what types of programs?
Housing, mental health care, education, prevention
Why is the toxic drug crisis framed as an economic problem, not just a health issue?
Because of public spending, lost productivity, emergency services, and long-term strain on resources.
In legal markets, consumers can evaluate quality and safety. Why can’t they in illegal drug markets?
Sellers have information, buyers do not
Who ultimately pays for the negative externalities of the drug crisis?
The general public through taxes and reduced services
Why does a constrained budget make opportunity cost more significant?
Because choices become mutually exclusive
What budget constraint makes efficient allocation even more important in Vancouver?
The 2026 property-tax freeze
What substance is frequently responsible for increased overdose risk due to contamination?
Fentanyl or fentanyl analogues
How does drug toxicity affect people who don’t use drugs at all?
Through overcrowded hospitals, reduced safety, and higher public costs
What happens economically when money is concentrated on emergency responses?
Long-term solutions are underfunded
From an economic perspective, what question matters more than what “feels” compassionate?
What minimizes total harm per dollar spent
Why does information asymmetry make the drug market unsafe regardless of individual behavior?
Because unpredictability eliminates informed choice and increases overdose risk
Why do negative externalises justify government intervention in this market?
Because private decisions create social costs not reflected in market choices
How does opportunity cost connect to inefficient public spending in this crisis?
Resources are used on short-term fixes instead of high-return interventions