Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services, made startling revelations about his former drug use during a Thursday appearance on Theo Von’s podcast.
Kennedy disclosed that he once consumed cocaine off a toilet seat while discussing his views on germs and disease prevention.
The secretary appeared on “This Past Weekend” and shared the anecdote while reflecting on his commitment to attending recovery meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kennedy explained his dedication to in-person meetings despite health concerns at the time.
“I mean for me, I said this when I came in, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting everyday,’” Kennedy said.
“I’m not scared of a germ, you know. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats. I know this disease will kill me. If I don’t treat it, which means going to meetings everyday, it’s just bad for my life. For me, it was survival.”
The HHS secretary has maintained sobriety for over four decades, according to media reports.
Kennedy described the transition to virtual recovery meetings as devastating. He characterized the shift away from in-person gatherings as “heartbreaking” during the pandemic.
The conversation between Kennedy and Von later shifted to his current role at HHS and his previous career in law.
Kennedy’s struggle with substance abuse began following a national tragedy..
His drug use reportedly started in the years after his father, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in Los Angeles in 1968 following his victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary.
Law enforcement arrested Kennedy on two separate occasions for drug possession.
The second arrest became a turning point that led Kennedy to pursue recovery and maintain his sobriety.
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Kennedy’s candid comments drew immediate criticism from healthcare advocates, The Hill added.
Brad Woodhouse, who serves as president of Protect Our Care, responded with a one-word statement about Kennedy’s remarks: “Resign.”
The advocacy organization has previously targeted Kennedy with public demonstrations.
Last month, Protect Our Care displayed messages on the HHS building in Washington, D.C., criticizing Kennedy’s leadership, according to reporting from The Hill.
The projections accused Kennedy of “MAKING AMERICA SICKER AGAIN,” with another message stating “MEASLES HQ.”
These protests coincided with concerning developments regarding measles in the United States. The Hill previously reported that the nation recently met a key condition required to lose its measles elimination status, which it has maintained for more than 25 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet declared the elimination status terminated. The agency stated that officials must first determine the exact chain of transmission before making such a determination.
Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has encouraged Americans to get vaccinated against measles.
“Take the vaccine, please,” Oz said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“We have a solution for our problem. Not all illnesses are equally dangerous, and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” he added.
“But measles is one [where] you should get your vaccine.”
Kennedy has established himself as a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement prior to his government appointment.
The secretary’s personal history with addiction and recovery spans more than 40 years, during which he has maintained his commitment to sobriety through daily meeting attendance.
