Presley Gerber was reportedly taking ketamine prescribed by a doctor when he died in a southern California rehabilitation centre.
An unnamed doctor was giving the dissociative drug to the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, despite his past issues with the substance, according to TMZ.
Friends of Gerber’s reportedly said the physician providing him with the drug was aware the young model had a history of dependency including a problem with ketamine. Those associates are said to be upset with the physician they believe was enabling Gerber and believe that person should be held criminally responsible.
It is unclear whether that doctor was an outside physician or one associated with the rehab clinic where Gerber died.
He’d reportedly sought alternative treatments for addiction including the psychoactive drug ibogaine in the months before he died. A study cited by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says ibogaine’s anti-addictive qualities have shown promise in testing.
Ketamine is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used primarily as a general anesthetic. Some physicians believe it can be helpful in treating types of addiction under medical supervision, according to WebMD.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s determined Friends star Matthew Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine” in 2023. The 54-year-old actor was reportedly taking the drug to treat depression and anxiety.
Gerber appeared unwell shortly before he died, TMZ sources said. A toxicology report is expected to determine what drugs may have been in Gerber’s system as well as his cause of death. A drug overdose is suspected.
Gerber’s ex-girlfriend Charlotte D’Alessio posted a message about her former flame’s death on her Instagram Story.
“You deserved more time. You deserved more life. Very angry (about) this,” she captioned a photo of the pair together. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
