wellness farms

Senator Questions Health Secretary Kennedy About 'Wellness Farms' Proposal at Heated Senate Hearing

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks questioned Health Secretary Robert Kennedy during a combative Senate hearing about his proposal for national 'wellness farms' based on San Patrignano, an Italian addiction recovery community. Alsobrooks cited Kennedy's past comments about 'reparenting' Black children on such farms. Kennedy said he has no memory of making those statements and apologized if he did. Critics, including addiction experts at Yale, warn that San Patrignano's abstinence-only approach could be dangerous in the U.S. where opioid overdoses kill tens of thousands annually. San Patrignano's leaders say the model cannot be safely scaled and acknowledge past scandals including residents held against their will.