VP Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter pushes drugs and shorter work weeks

Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, has once again thrust herself into the public eye—this time with a revelation about her health that’s as eyebrow-raising as her fashion choices. In a series of Instagram posts, Emhoff disclosed that she’s been grappling with a spinal condition since childhood, leading to chronic back pain. But that’s not the most startling part. No, what really grabs attention is her casual suggestion of using the controversial drug ketamine to manage her pain.

Yes, you heard that right. The 25-year-old daughter of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is now recommending ketamine, a drug with a notorious history, as a potential solution for chronic pain. For those unfamiliar, ketamine is more commonly associated with club scenes and anesthetic use in veterinary clinics, not exactly the go-to remedy for back pain. Yet, here we are, with Emhoff listing “ketamine infusions” as one of her pain management strategies in a Google Sheet she shared with her 345,000 Instagram followers.

Ella Emhoff’s revelation comes wrapped in the same quirky, avant-garde packaging she’s become known for. With her face plastered in Hello Kitty stickers, she informed her followers that she was born with a tethered spine—a condition where the spinal cord is abnormally attached to the spinal canal. This, she claims, stunted her growth and resulted in a hunchback, or kyphosis, which has plagued her with chronic pain for most of her life. After years of bouncing between doctors and physical therapists, and even undergoing lower back surgery, she’s now exploring more… unconventional methods of pain relief.

Emhoff’s Instagram story wasn’t just a personal health update; it was practically a call to action for her fellow “chronic pain people.” She solicited advice on what they use to “feel comf [sic],” as if discussing the latest fashion trend. Among her listed remedies were things like “sleep 14 hours,” “not feeling guilty about the pain,” and “eliminating sugar and no alcohol [sic].” But the inclusion of ketamine, a drug with a dark history, especially in light of recent events, is nothing short of shocking.

Let’s not forget that just this past October, beloved “Friends” actor Matthew Perry tragically died from a ketamine overdose. The drug’s addictive properties and dangerous potential have long been documented, making its casual recommendation by Emhoff all the more troubling. As if that wasn’t enough, she even mentioned “mushrooms” as another option—again, blurring the line between legitimate medical treatment and recreational drug use.

Dr. Michael Harbison, a chiropractor in Las Vegas, was quick to criticize Emhoff’s recommendations. “There are far better options out there to deal with chronic pain than ketamine and mushrooms,” he stated. “In my professional opinion, those treatments are not for back pain—they are basically just getting you high.” Yet, Emhoff seems unfazed by such criticism, as she made clear in her post: “These are all just recommendations made to me; these should not be taken as medical advice. I am just a girl trynna [sic] feel less pain.”

This isn’t just another quirky Instagram post from a fashion-forward millennial. It’s a glaring example of how easily misinformation can spread when influencers push dangerous and unverified treatments to their followers. While Emhoff might think she’s simply sharing her personal experiences, the reality is that her words carry weight, especially when she’s the stepdaughter of the Vice President of the United States.

So what’s next? Should we expect more young influencers to start touting club drugs as the next big thing in pain management? Let’s hope not. Because while Ella Emhoff might be “just a girl trynna feel less pain,” the implications of her advice are anything but trivial.