Health Chief Kennedy Recalls Snorting Cocaine Off Toilet Seats

Kennedy says he's no germaphobe, prioritizes daily recovery meetings to stay sober

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. divulged his past drug addiction and habits, including snorting cocaine off toilet seats, during a podcast interview. Kennedy, who has been sober for over 40 years, said daily recovery meetings are a priority for him to maintain his sobriety, even forming a "pirate group" to continue meeting in person during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Why it matters

Kennedy's candid admission about his past drug use and recovery efforts sheds light on the challenges faced by those in recovery, especially during the pandemic when in-person support meetings were disrupted. His story highlights the importance of accessible addiction treatment and the need to destigmatize discussions around substance abuse.

The details

During an interview on comedian Theo Von's podcast "This Past Weekend", Kennedy revealed that he used to snort cocaine off toilet seats at the height of his drug addiction, which began after his father Robert Kennedy's assassination in 1968. Kennedy has been arrested twice for drug possession but has been sober for over 40 years. He emphasized the importance of daily recovery meetings to his sobriety, even forming a "pirate group" to continue meeting in person during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which he called "heartbreaking" for those in recovery.

  • Kennedy began abusing drugs in the years after his father's assassination in 1968.
  • Kennedy has been sober for more than 40 years.

The players

Robert Kennedy Jr.

The Health and Human Services Secretary who has been open about his past drug addiction and recovery efforts.

Theo Von

A comedian who also struggled with cocaine addiction and has been in recovery, and who interviewed Kennedy on his podcast "This Past Weekend".

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What they’re saying

“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. So, for me, it was survival.”

— Robert Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary (This Past Weekend)

“I mean for me, I said this when I came in, 'I don't care what happens, I'm going to a meeting everyday.' I'm not scared of a germ, you know. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.”

— Robert Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary (This Past Weekend)

The takeaway

Kennedy's candid discussion of his past drug use and commitment to recovery highlights the ongoing challenges faced by those battling addiction, even at the highest levels of government. His story underscores the importance of accessible addiction treatment and the need to destigmatize discussions around substance abuse in order to support those seeking sobriety.