RFK Jr's Startling Admission on Germs and Past Drug Use
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has made a startling public admission about his past struggles with substance abuse, revealing that his history of drug use has left him unafraid of germs. During a recent episode of podcaster Theo Von's show 'This Past Weekend,' Kennedy explained his perspective with a graphic example from his addiction days.
Candid Conversation About Shared Addiction History
The health secretary engaged in a remarkably frank discussion with Von about their shared experiences with drug addiction, which Kennedy has been open about in previous public appearances. The conversation took a particularly vivid turn when Kennedy addressed his attitude toward germs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I'm not scared of a germ," Kennedy declared during the podcast episode. "You know, I used to snort cocaine off a toilet seat, and I know this disease [addiction] will kill me, right? If I don't treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day."
Maintaining Recovery During Pandemic Restrictions
Kennedy detailed how he continued attending recovery meetings throughout the Covid-19 pandemic despite official shutdowns of rehabilitation programs. He described participating in what he called a "pirate group" that maintained daily meetings regardless of public health restrictions.
"They shut [the rehabilitation meetings] down during Covid," Kennedy explained. "We still did live meetings every day during Covid, but it was kind of a pirate group... I said, 'I don't care what happens. I'm going to a meeting every day.'"
The health secretary emphasized that maintaining his recovery routine was essential for survival, stating that addiction represented a greater threat to his life than any potential exposure to germs during the pandemic.
Long History of Substance Abuse
Kennedy comes from a family with a documented history of substance abuse issues and has spoken publicly about his addiction to heroin on multiple occasions. Last April, he recounted how his path toward addiction began at just fifteen years old after experimenting with LSD.
During the podcast, Von mentioned additional stories about Kennedy's past behavior, including accounts of the health secretary snorting cocaine while eating oysters and socializing with musician Kid Rock in Nashville, Tennessee. Kennedy responded to these anecdotes by noting he was still saving a seat for Kid Rock at recovery meetings.
Political Reactions and Policy Context
The health secretary's candid remarks have sparked criticism from political figures and social media users. New York Governor Kathy Hochul's official X account responded simply with "It shows" to a clip of Kennedy's comments, while Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Malcolm Kenyatta wrote: "For some reason I don't trust this guy on public health."
Other social media users questioned the appropriateness of such admissions from someone overseeing the nation's major health agencies. These comments come just weeks after Kennedy announced $100 million in funding for new grants targeting homelessness and substance use recovery in eight cities as part of a pilot program.
The funding initiative follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump titled "The Great American Recovery Initiative" late last month, creating an interesting juxtaposition between Kennedy's policy work and his personal revelations about addiction recovery methods.
