U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drew widespread attention after describing his past drug use during a recent podcast appearance, where he spoke about his long-term recovery from addiction.
Kennedy made the remarks on Thursday while speaking with comedian Theo Von on Von’s podcast, This Past Weekend. Reflecting on more than four decades of sobriety, Kennedy said his recovery has depended on a daily commitment to treatment and support.
“We’ve been in recovery together for years,” Kennedy said, recalling that he and Von first crossed paths at early-morning recovery meetings before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kennedy said he promised himself he would attend a recovery meeting every day, regardless of work demands.
“I said this when we came in and I said, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting every day,’” he said. “I’m not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats. I know this disease will kill me. If I don’t treat it, which for me means going to meetings every day, it’s just bad for my life.”
Clips of the conversation circulated widely online, shared by multiple large accounts and drawing significant engagement.
Kennedy has previously spoken publicly about his history with substance use, including periods of addiction that began in his youth and continued into adulthood. He has also discussed a past felony conviction for heroin possession and has said he entered treatment afterward, describing that period as the end of his active addiction.
In interviews over the years, Kennedy has credited consistent participation in recovery and support meetings with helping him maintain sobriety for more than 40 years.
