Ever heard of NSP or NEP programs? No?

 Ever seen the abbrieviation "NSP"?  How about "NEP"?  

Those stand for needle and syringe program (NSP), also known as needle exchange program (NEP). 

These programs allow poor women who do a lot of sewing to exchange worn needles for new ones.

Just kidding:  these are programs by liberal /socialist-run cities that give junkies "free" syringes--complete with needles--so they can inject drugs without the risk of getting hep-C or HIV.

Is that cool or what? 

When a liberal city proposes giving "free" needles to junkies, the use of abbrieviations makes it harder for voters to know what's really going on.  (The term "exhange" is often used to disguise the true nature of these programs, which is to simply give syringes to junkies.)

Liberals support these programs--and get voters to support 'em--by noting that when junkies get hep-C or HIV from sharing needles, and are hospitalized, the cost of treating them is paid by (can you guess?) taxpayers.  So the rationale is that by paying half a buck to give junkies a "free" needle every day, taxpayers actually save money since fewer junkies get hep-C or AIDS.  So it makes perfect sense, eh?

And if you're not allowed to change any of the inputs, it does make fiscal sense.

But there's also no question that giving junkies "free" needles also insulates them from the consequences of their own choices.

If you don't understand all the implications of  the previous sentence, read it again.  Cuz insulating people from the consequences of their own choices removes the penalties from making deadly or damaging choices--which ends up enabling more people to make damaging choices.

Now, I'm not saying taxpayers shouldn't support giving "free" needles to I-V drug users (junkies), but that we should admit that such programs encourage drug use, with all the consequences that implies..

Basically these programs are enabling junkies.

BTW, Portland, Oregon was the first city in U.S. to use taxpayer dollars on a needle "exchange."  It started in 1989.^[11]  The program continues to this day.  Which may account for...nah.