Additional Coverage:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s personal history with addiction is shaping his approach to the nation’s health crisis.
Kennedy, nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services, openly discusses his 14-year struggle with heroin and other drugs. He credits his recovery to faith, 12-step programs, and philosophical readings.
This personal experience heavily influences his proposed policies.
Kennedy’s confirmation hearings have sparked debate. He advocates for faith-based, 12-step, and farm-based recovery programs. He envisions a network of “healing farms” across rural America.
While some addiction activists applaud Kennedy’s emphasis on values-based recovery, many drug policy experts express concern. They argue his approach prioritizes a moral dimension over modern, science-based treatment. Critics question the absence of medical care in his proposed farm system, citing potential risks for those with severe addiction.
Experts emphasize the effectiveness of medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and naloxone in treating opioid addiction. They point to the recent decline in overdose deaths as evidence of the success of medication-assisted treatment. Kennedy’s silence on these treatments, coupled with his apparent skepticism of medication, raises further concerns.
Kennedy’s campaign film even appeared to blame methadone, a long-used opioid treatment medication, for street drug use. He has also publicly disputed the improving overdose statistics, contradicting data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Adding to the controversy is Kennedy’s interest in the San Patrignano program in Italy. This farm-based recovery model has faced allegations of abusive practices. Kennedy envisions similar camps in the US, where individuals could be pressured into treatment with the threat of incarceration.
Critics worry that under Kennedy’s leadership, funding for evidence-based treatment might be diverted to less effective, spirituality-focused approaches. They emphasize the need for policymakers to consider scientific research, not just personal anecdotes, when shaping addiction policy.