He was only 27 years old and a life that should have been easy… Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, was found dead in the rehab center where he was staying last Sunday.
Fragile mental health and serious addictions
Unfortunately, this was not his first experience. In recent years, he had spoken regularly on social networks about his problems with drug addiction and his fragile mental health. A state from which he intended to escape. But according to the magazine People, it is this long-standing addiction that would have caused his downfall. He was reportedly discovered unconscious after suffering a cardiac arrest in his bedroom. A “possible overdose” would be feared, according to the American newspaper. For the moment, the autopsy has not yet provided an official cause.
The banal and sad story of a child overwhelmed by success? Maybe. But new information appears in the report today. Because Presley Gerber’s own doctor’s prescription could be to blame.
Ketamine prescribed despite addiction problems
This new data is mentioned by TMZ today. The young man was allegedly prescribed ketamine by his doctor. However, the latter was well aware of Presley Gerber’s addiction problems.
“It was a real problem for him.”say those close to the model today. “He had become addicted to it, he spoke to us very openly about it. We are furious. If you ask us for our opinion, we think this doctor should be prosecuted.“
These accusations, reported by TMZ, will however have to be confirmed by the investigation. For the moment, there is nothing to confirm that the ketamine prescribed to Presley Gerber was the cause of his death. But maybe she didn’t really help the patient.
Ketamine: what exactly is it?
Commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, ketamine is a powerful anesthetic “used for several years to manage intractable pain in palliative care, or even chronic pain”underlines the ANSM. The product is also considered against depression.
Synthesized in the 1960s, this substance causes deep and prolonged analgesia, resulting in a state of disconnection in the patient. It has a marketing authorization for a single use in a hospital environment.
Dr Gérald Kierzek told us more about the history of this anesthetic, already involved in the death of actor Matthew Perry.
“This anesthetic product was widely used during the Vietnam War. It was used to treat chronic pain. Then, its use was gradually expanded (resistant depression, post-traumatic stress).“
Ketamine indeed has particular properties which explain why its medical use has gradually diversified. But this substance should not be confused with a common medication: its action on the brain can cause significant dissociative effects and its repeated use exposes the risk of dependence.
A use largely diverted today
This substance is also used outside the medical context: users appreciate it for its numerous psychoactive/psychodysleptic effects (perceptual distortions, delusional ideas, euphoria, etc.). A limited time in the middle of raves and free parties, its use as a psychotropic product has widely spread.
“Its use has been diverted for recreational purposes, particularly during “chemsex” practices. In high doses, it actually allows you to dissociate from your body. Result: we are witnessing an explosion of addictions,” assures Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
Used outside of any medical setting, ketamine can also be researched for its effects on perceptions and sensations. Some consumers also combine it with other substances, which can considerably increase the risks.
“When ketamine is taken with other dangerous substances, such as buprenorphine (opiates), the cocktail effect is guaranteed,” warns the medical director of True Medical.
And it is precisely this repeated use outside of a medical setting that can lead to the development of a real dependence.
Ketamine: what are the health risks?
If the festive use of ketamine remains, at present, rather limited in France, the ANSM confirms that serious complications following the administration of ketamine are regularly reported.
Beyond neuropsychiatric risks, such as hallucinations, paranoia or memory impairment, repeated use can lead to dependence.
But the consequences don’t stop at the brain. The ANSM warns in particular of serious damage to the liver, bile ducts and urinary system. It is about “serious damage to the liver, bile ducts and urological system. They most often result from prolonged and/or repeated use, which can also cause dependence on ketamine.”
Certain symptoms should therefore alert you, particularly in the event of regular consumption. In the event of addiction to ketamine, the ANSM invites you to consult a doctor without delay, particularly in cases of “the appearance of blood in the urine or pelvic pain which are symptoms of this type of disorder“, she explains.
Can ketamine cause an overdose?
The question is particularly important in the context of the death of Presley Gerber. Ketamine intoxication can cause a profound alteration of consciousness and, in high doses or when combined with other substances, expose one to serious complications, as seen previously.
In the case of the young man, it is difficult to draw a hasty conclusion: a possible overdose and the precise role of ketamine in his death must still be established by forensic examinations.
However, the danger is heightened when ketamine is consumed with other psychoactive substances or central nervous system depressants. In these situations, the effects can be cumulative and make the poisoning particularly dangerous. Until cardiac arrest? We will have to wait for the results of the toxicological analyses. They should make it possible to know what substances were present in Presley Gerber’s body at the time of his death.
At this stage, possible medical or criminal liability cannot be deduced from these testimonies alone. But information is important. The investigators will have to determine in particular why the ketamine was prescribed, at what dose, for how long, in what setting and whether the doctor was aware of a possible dependence on this substance.