Health and Me

Ishita Roy

I'm Not Afraid Of Germs, I Snorted Cocaine Off Toilet Seats, Says US Secretary of Health, RFK Jr

"I'm not scared of a germ, I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats," said the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr. Now 72, he said during a Theo Von podcast that he continued with in-person rehab meeting during pandemic due to his addiction because of his robust approach to infection. 

In a statement, he said, "I said, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting every day’,” he told Von. “I said, ‘I’m not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats — and I know this disease [addiction] will kill me if I don’t treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day … for me, it was survival.”

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/rfk-jr-removes-entire-cdc-vaccine-advisory-committee-article-151823769" data-type="tilCustomLink">RFK Jr. Removes Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee</a>

<h2>What Is Wrong With <span rel="noindex">RFK Jr</span>'s Statement?</h2>

While toilet seat may not be the dirtiest item in an average household, as scientists, including professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, Dr Chuck Gerba told BBC that there are other dirtier items too. The statement to snort off a toilet seat could have a wrong tone. 

While there exist other items with more bacteria than toilet, it is no safe to snort things off toilet seat and absolutely not to do drugs and to brag about it. This feels especially off when it comes from a Health Secretary. 

On an average, a toilet seat typically has around 50 to 3,000 bacteria per square inch. A toilet seat could have many bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, norovirus and Shigella. They can cause gastrointestinal distress. 

What is wrong with RFK Jr.'s statement is that having frequent encounters with fecal bacteria will not scientifically make him immune against the respiratory viruses which were common during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/who-is-robert-f-kennedy-jr-the-controversial-nominee-for-u-s-health-secretary-article-" data-type="tilCustomLink">Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Controversial Nominee for U.S. Health Secretary?</a> 

This is because bacteria are single-celled, living organisms that can live independently, while viruses are much smaller, non-living agents and require a host cell to reproduce. The basic difference in its composition and how they function after entering the body is the reason why exposure to bacteria does not necessarily means one is protected or has immunity against a virus. 

<h2>RFK Jr And His Anti-Vaxxer Stance</h2>

He is the nephew of former US President John F Kennedy popularly known as JFK, who was a democratic candidate. However, RFK Jr., who earlier filed candidature as a Democrat, then switched to an independent candidate and endorsed Trump heavily.

RFK Jr. works closely with many anti-vaccine activists who work for his nonprofit group Children's Health Defense. While in his recent speech, he said that he has "never been anti-vax and have never told the public to avoid vaccination", his track record shows otherwise.

In a podcast interview, he said, "There is no vaccine that is safe and effective" and told FOX News that he still believes in the now long-debunked idea that vaccines can cause autism. In another 2021 podcast, he urged people to "resist" CDC guidelines on getting their kids vaccinated. "I see somebody on a hiking trail carrying a little baby and I say to him, better not get them vaccinated," he said.

His non-profit also led an anti-vax campaign sticker and he appeared next on the screen to a sticker that read: "If you are not an anti-vaxxer you are not paying attention," reports AP.

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"I'm not scared of a germ, I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats," said the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr. Now 72, he said during a Theo Von podcast that he continued with in-person rehab meeting during pandemic due to his addiction because of his robust approach to infection. In a statement, he said, "I said, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting every day’,” he told Von. “I said, ‘I’m not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats — and I know this disease [addiction] will kill me if I don’t treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day … for me, it was survival.”Read: RFK Jr. Removes Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory CommitteeWhat Is Wrong With RFK Jr's Statement?While toilet seat may not be the dirtiest item in an average household, as scientists, including professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, Dr Chuck Gerba told BBC that there are other dirtier items too. The statement to snort off a toilet seat could have a wrong tone. While there exist other items with more bacteria than toilet, it is no safe to snort things off toilet seat and absolutely not to do drugs and to brag about it. This feels especially off when it comes from a Health Secretary. On an average, a toilet seat typically has around 50 to 3,000 bacteria per square inch. A toilet seat could have many bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, norovirus and Shigella. They can cause gastrointestinal distress. What is wrong with RFK Jr.'s statement is that having frequent encounters with fecal bacteria will not scientifically make him immune against the respiratory viruses which were common during the COVID-19 pandemic.Read: Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Controversial Nominee for U.S. Health Secretary? This is because bacteria are single-celled, living organisms that can live independently, while viruses are much smaller, non-living agents and require a host cell to reproduce. The basic difference in its composition and how they function after entering the body is the reason why exposure to bacteria does not necessarily means one is protected or has immunity against a virus. RFK Jr And His Anti-Vaxxer StanceHe is the nephew of former US President John F Kennedy popularly known as JFK, who was a democratic candidate. However, RFK Jr., who earlier filed candidature as a Democrat, then switched to an independent candidate and endorsed Trump heavily.RFK Jr. works closely with many anti-vaccine activists who work for his nonprofit group Children's Health Defense. While in his recent speech, he said that he has "never been anti-vax and have never told the public to avoid vaccination", his track record shows otherwise.In a podcast interview, he said, "There is no vaccine that is safe and effective" and told FOX News that he still believes in the now long-debunked idea that vaccines can cause autism. In another 2021 podcast, he urged people to "resist" CDC guidelines on getting their kids vaccinated. "I see somebody on a hiking trail carrying a little baby and I say to him, better not get them vaccinated," he said.His non-profit also led an anti-vax campaign sticker and he appeared next on the screen to a sticker that read: "If you are not an anti-vaxxer you are not paying attention," reports AP.