by Joe Loconte

About the author: Joe Loconte is deputy editor of Policy Review.

In a midrise office building on Manhattan’s West 37th Street, about two blocks south of the Port Authority bus terminal, sits the Positive Health Project, one of 11 needle-exchange outlets in New York City. This particular neighborhood, dotted by X-rated video stores, peep shows, and a grimy hot dog stand, could probably tolerate some positive health. But it’s not clear that’s what the program’s patrons are getting.

The clients are intravenous (IV) drug users. They swap their used needles for clean ones and, it is hoped, avoid the AIDS virus, at least until their next visit. There’s no charge, no hassles, no meddlesome questions. That’s just the...