Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces calls for resignation after revealing he previously snorted cocaine off toilet seats during a podcast interview discussing his decades-long recovery from addiction.

Advocacy Group Calls for Resignation

Protect Our Care, a nonprofit health advocacy organization, issued a scathing statement following Kennedy’s February 12 appearance on comedian Theo Von’s podcast. The group labeled Kennedy as the most dangerous and ill-suited person ever to lead the federal health agency. Organization president Brad Woodhouse delivered a one-word response to Kennedy’s comments: Resign. The secretary has faced ongoing criticism regarding his positions on vaccines, fluoride, and dietary guidelines since taking office.

Recovery Discussion Turns Controversial

Kennedy’s controversial statement emerged during a broader conversation about sobriety and addiction recovery. The HHS secretary, who has maintained sobriety for over four decades, explained his commitment to daily recovery meetings even during the COVID-19 pandemic. He told Von that he formed a meeting group to continue support during lockdowns, emphasizing his belief that untreated addiction would prove fatal. The discussion covered Kennedy’s approach to addressing addiction through his current federal role.

Policy Initiatives and Personal History

Kennedy outlined HHS pilot programs targeting early intervention for addiction, including street outreach, crisis intervention, treatment placement, and job assistance for recovering individuals. The department allocated $100 million for comprehensive care addressing substance abuse, mental health challenges, and homelessness. Kennedy previously detailed his addiction journey at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, describing how drug use began following his father’s 1968 assassination and progressed to a fourteen-year heroin addiction before achieving recovery.

What This Means

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Kennedy’s leadership of the nation’s primary health agency. Critics argue his past undermines his credibility in overseeing public health policy, while supporters may view his recovery experience as a valuable perspective for addressing America’s addiction crisis. The HHS has not responded to requests for comment regarding the resignation demands.