A Dangerous Fantasy: RFK Jr.'s Ranches for Addiction Recovery Miss the Mark

I’ve never been much of a political person. Politics have always seemed distasteful to me, yet as I watch the US fall further and further into chaos, I cannot help but speak out.

Earlier this month I wrote “Debunking the Myths About SSRIs: Why RFK Jr is Wrong”

and I continue to be discouraged whenever I read headlines and news articles, so I want to delve more into what I think we need to help people manage their mental (and physical) health.

Hint: It’s not getting rid of SSRIs and stimulant medications or making work farms for people with addictions. And it’s also not questioning treatments and preventions that have already undergone rigorous testing and have been shown to be safe and effective.

I recently wrote this Calls to Action post for , my local CHADD chapter. I encourage you to read it and let your voice be heard!

What are These Farms or Ranches?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has put forth the idea of ranches where individuals struggling with addiction can recover through long-term stays, avoiding pharmaceutical treatments. He specifically mentions these wellness farms would be available to help people to get off SSRIs and stimulant medications. While the notion of healing in a natural setting may sound idyllic to some, the reality is that this model is not only impractical but deeply problematic on multiple levels.

His broader rhetoric often questions the safety and necessity of vaccines and medications. Without vaccines, we will see more death and disability. This is not good for anyone’s physical or mental health.

Who Pays for These Farms?

Long-term residential stays on ranches (stays of 3-5 years) are an unrealistic and unattainable solution for the vast majority of people suffering from addiction. Who would fund such a program? Would this be a private-pay luxury for the wealthy while the rest are left without adequate treatment options? Would taxpayer dollars be funneled into a model that removes individuals from society rather than integrating them into effective, evidence-based treatment programs?

I’ve read that he thinks taxes from cannabis products would fund this. He must not know the numbers of people who take SSRIs and stimulants.

• About 15% of all females (children and adults) and 7% of all males (children and adults) take an antidepressant.

• About 5 million adults in the US take stimulant medication for ADHD. 

• And National estimates among U.S. children aged 3–17 years who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD vary from 6% to 16% across states. Estimates for receiving any ADHD treatment among children with current ADHD vary from 58% to 92% across states. Even in states with lower estimates: that’s a lot of kids taking stimulants.

The Cost of Isolation

Recovery does not happen in isolation. When people are sent away for extended periods, they lose touch with their families, friends, and responsibilities. How does one reintegrate into society after years away? How do they reclaim jobs, housing, and financial stability? For that matter, how do they pay their bills while away?

The abrupt transition back into the real world would likely lead to an even greater risk of relapse, as individuals would have no structured support network to help them navigate the complexities of everyday life.

The Devastating Impact on Families

Perhaps most troubling is the potential impact on children. Maybe I’m biased as a mom and pediatrician, but the idea of sending people away for years in the name of recovery seems to break the benefits family.

If a parent is sent away for a few years to “recover” and get off their medication, what happens to the kids?

Anxiety, depression, ADHD and other related conditions are not just for adults. They’re common among kids. Would these children also be expected to leave their families to work on a farm in the name of healing?

Such a model is not just impractical — it is inhumane. Separating children from their support systems and placing them in regimented environments would likely exacerbate their struggles rather than alleviate them. The science on child development is clear: stability, security, and access to proper mental health care are critical for well-being.

Questioning Proven Treatments

Attacks on the safety of these medications are already leading more parents to question the need for them. What they don’t realize is the risk of NOT treating these conditions is far worse!

Not properly treating anxiety and depression can lead to

• worsening of symptoms

• the inability to go to work or school

• self-treatment with drugs and alcohol

• poor focus and attention — leading to mistakes at work or lower academic performance

• poor management of overall health — not properly eating, taking medications, sleep disturbances, and more that all lead to worsening of health outcomes

• suicide

I’ve recently written about the risks of not treating ADHD:

Treatment Matters

Medications are a valuable component of treatment plans for many with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. They are not the only treatments, since it is well established that nutrition, exercise, sleep, mindfulness and other self-cares make a difference. Therapy can help people re-train their thinking for a more positive outlook and improved coping skills. People also benefit from learning executive function tools.

Beyond these measures, supporting people for basic needs provides numerous benefits.

Real Solutions: Community-Based Care and Systemic Change

Rather than funneling resources into an isolating and exclusive system, we should be investing in accessible, community-based solutions.

• Universal access to nutritious food: Healthy eating should not be a privilege. Every community, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserves access to affordable, high-quality food. Propaganda about unfounded food safety concerns may lead to fear about eating conventionally grown produce, which can lead to a less healthy diet.

• Affordable, quality childcare: Working parents need safe, reliable childcare to support their families while maintaining employment.

• Safe and stable housing: Unhoused individuals need access to shelter and resources, not displacement and criminalization. People who are living in unsafe homes need safe ways out of their current situation and into affordable locations.

• Social connection and work-life balance: Paid time off should not be a luxury. Maintaining social ties and community connections are essential for mental and emotional well-being.

• Education reform: Later school start times for teens align with their biological sleep cycles, improving academic performance and mental health. Schools should also accommodate diverse learning styles to support all students.

• Workplace accommodations: Many adults struggle with executive functioning challenges or disabilities. Workplaces must adapt by allowing flexible schedules, remote work options, and environments that promote accessibility and inclusion.

• Public health standards based on science: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the dangers of poor air quality and lack of health protections. Policies should be driven by science, not politics, to protect workers and communities. The unchecked spread of illnesses like bird flu has consequences far beyond the rising cost of eggs — it threatens global health and food security. Vigilant containment strategies are critical.

• Environmental responsibility: Climate change is worsening extreme weather and endangering ecosystems. We must take proactive steps to mitigate its impact and ensure a sustainable future.

• Affordable and comprehensive healthcare: Countries that provide universal healthcare enjoy improved health and life expectancy. Tying insurance to employment and cutting Medicaid funding risks Americans not being able to afford basic healthcare needs. When people lose their jobs or can no longer work, they need affordable insurance. No one should have to choose between paying for medical care or putting off necessary care. In addition to better coverage of all healthcare costs, mental health care should be covered as comprehensively as physical health. Mental health is health. We also cannot afford to lose the protections gained from vaccines and other healthcare advances. The promotion of unproven statements that counter research-proven facts and incite fear about safe and effective treatments will undermine the protections from which we’ve benefitted. We will see more chronic disease and death if vaccines are not continued at rates that provide herd immunity.

A Hopeful Path Forward

The answer to addiction, mental illness, and public health challenges is not to remove people from society, nor is it to reject science in favor of ideological narratives. Instead, we must work collectively to build systems that foster well-being, accessibility, and inclusion. Healing happens in communities, not in isolation. It is time to invest in solutions that address the root causes of suffering, rather than offering unrealistic and exclusionary alternatives.

RFK Jr.’s vision is not just unfeasible, it is a dangerous distraction from the real work that needs to be done. We cannot afford to waste time on impractical fantasies when real, evidence-based solutions are within reach.

I guess one hope is that he (and others in this administration) break things so badly that we’re forced to rebuild everything — we can do it better if we learn from past mistakes.

Hopefully we’ll learn.