Italy Addiction Recovery Farm: A US Overdose Crisis Model?

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is advocating for a network of “wellness farms” modeled after a controversial rehabilitation center in Italy, San Patrignano, as a potential solution to the ongoing overdose crisis in the United States. The proposal, which Kennedy first discussed during his 2024 presidential campaign, has drawn criticism from some who deem the idea “dangerous” and “irresponsible.”

During a Senate hearing on April 29, 2026, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat from Maryland, questioned Kennedy about his vision for these wellness farms. You said every black kid can be reparented on a wellness farm, can you admit that you said that? Alsobrooks asked, characterizing the concept as harmful. Kennedy responded that he did not recall making such a statement and apologized if he had.

Kennedy initially raised the idea of “reparenting” children on wellness farms during podcast interviews in June and July of 2024, suggesting they could help children affected by drug addiction and over-prescription of medications. He specifically mentioned his vision for Black children, following a claim that every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence. He then proposed wellness farms as a solution.

The San Patrignano Model

San Patrignano, located outside Coriano, Italy, is one of Europe’s largest and most well-known rehabilitation centers, housing approximately 850 people. Residents work at the facility—which includes a vineyard, restaurants, and a hospital—without pay, as part of their recovery process. Kennedy has described San Patrignano as a beautiful model for addressing addiction.

The program requires long-term stays and emphasizes community and vocational training. However, the center has a complex history. Paolo Severi, a former resident who received treatment at San Patrignano in the 1990s, described his experience as oppressive and a total institution, controlling every aspect of my life. He alleges he witnessed violence and isolation of residents who disagreed with the program’s rules, and that residents were locked in rooms if they attempted to leave.

San Patrignano was oppressive. It was a total institution, controlling every aspect of my life.

Paolo Severi, former San Patrignano resident

Severi and other former residents, along with addiction and health policy experts, have expressed alarm over Kennedy’s push to adopt similar centers in the U.S., arguing that some programs like San Patrignano may not embrace modern addiction treatment practices and have histories of abuse.

Concerns About the Approach

Experts caution that therapeutic communities, while potentially beneficial, require careful implementation, and oversight. The long-term nature of San Patrignano’s program—residents stay for extended periods—and the requirement to work without pay raise questions about labor practices and individual autonomy.

The idea of “reparenting” individuals, particularly children, on farms has also been met with skepticism. Critics argue that such an approach oversimplifies the complex factors contributing to addiction and mental health challenges. The suggestion that wellness farms could address the opioid crisis, which claimed over 107,000 lives in the United States in 2022, has been described as a potentially dangerous oversimplification.

Kennedy has suggested that legalized marijuana could provide funding for these wellness farms, stating that the U.S. Has a kind of chronic inflammation — spiritually, mentally, emotionally and needs to start healing ourselves — and we need to be compassionate. However, the feasibility and ethical implications of this funding source remain unclear.

The debate over Kennedy’s proposal highlights the ongoing search for effective solutions to the addiction crisis and the challenges of balancing innovative approaches with the need for safe, evidence-based treatment.