Cindy Crawford’s son revealed that he had been “absolutely terrified” before undergoing a controversial treatment aimed at helping him overcome addiction, in a poignant post shared before his death.
Presley Gerber, who had faced longstanding struggles with drugs and his mental health, died at a rehabilitation centre yesterday at the age of 27.
Earlier this year, he documented undergoing a “Pre-ibogaine flood dose” at a treatment clinic in Mexico. The procedure involved a single, high-dose administration of ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychoactive substance.
Ibogaine is derived from an African shrub and is reported to help ease withdrawal symptoms. The high-dose treatment is intended to produce a profound “reset.”
Presley’s parents, supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, along with his sister Kaia, praised his “courage” after he shared details of beginning the treatment in March.
Crawford commented: “You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!” Kaia added: “That’s my brother I am so damn proud.”
Rande wrote: “I’m so proud of you and your courage. Facing what’s hard takes real strength and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.”
Presley Gerber pictured six months before his death during the controversial treatment in March, which he said left him “absolutely terrified” as he tried to overcome his addictions
Presley with his sister Kaia and parents Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. It was confirmed on Monday that he had died at 27 after a lengthy struggle with drugs and his mental health
Ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. However, it is legal or available by prescription in countries including Canada and Brazil, and is administered at specialised clinics in Mexico.
Presley praised Beond Ibogaine in Cancun, where treatment begins at $12,500 for a ten-day programme. He described its staff as an “incredible, caring, kind and on-their-s*** team.”
In a video caption, Presley wrote: “I was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this (helps to not go into the situations you do that get ya there but that’s life sometimes.)
“My mantras were love yourself and this gotta be the last time for this reason. Letting go of control didn’t come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it.
“I knew why I was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, I started finding my way back to myself… We shall see… Praying it’s the last time I have to come back.
“Next time I’d like to choose. And absolutely can’t forget the incredible caring, kind and on-their-s*** team. Helps a lot haha. And I made some dope ass friends there #iboga #ibogaine #rewireyourbrain #loveyourself #mentalhealth.”
Beond Ibogaine responded at the time: “Thank you for sharing this so openly. We know how much courage that moment takes, and we’re really proud of you for facing it with so much honesty and heart. It was an honor to support you.”
The Beond Ibogaine website states: “Ingesting a large enough dose induces a temporary psychedelic experience that can last several hours, normally with no significant side-effects.
“For hundreds of years, indigenous African peoples… have ingested large doses of ibogaine in its raw root bark form for its spiritual and healing properties.
“Over the past 30 years, ibogaine has been administered in various clinics around the world for medical treatment purposes, most often to treat drug dependence.”
In March, Presley shared details of his experience at a treatment clinic in Mexico, where he underwent a “Pre-ibogaine flood dose”
Admitting he was ‘absolutely terrified’ to go through the controversial treatment, which is illegal in the US, Presley was supported by his parents and sister Kaia Gerber for his ‘courage’
Despite its ban, public figures including singer Melissa Etheridge – who lost her 21-year-old son Beckett to a fentanyl overdose in 2020 – and Khloe Kardashian’s ex husband Lamar Odom have endorsed Ibogaine’s benefits.
Joe Rogan described ibogaine on a January episode of his podcast, saying, ‘It is in no way recreational. It is a very difficult experience. It’s not fun for anybody. It’s like a 24-hour trip.’
‘I haven’t done it, but my friends that have done it say that it’s basically like, you see your entire life play out before you. You see where all your problems come from, you see where all of your emotional hitches are.’
A Stanford University study published in January 2024 reported that ibogaine significantly improved symptoms of anxiety and depression in 30 veterans.
According to the Washington Post, ibogaine became outlawed in America in 1967.
‘It heals the brain,’ neurologist Deborah Mash explained to the publication in March 2024, noting that the substance rewires the organ by promoting growth of ‘neural networks in damaged brains.’
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Presley died on Sunday at a rehab facility in a devastating end to a battle he had increasingly laid bare in brutally candid social media posts. His cause of death was not revealed.
A spokesman for Ms Crawford told the Daily Mail: ‘The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.’
The tragedy cuts short the life of a model who had seemingly been destined to follow his famous mother into fashion from an early age.
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Presley started modeling at age 15 and was featured in campaigns for fashion labels such as Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein. He was signed to IMG models and appeared in a 2018 Pepsi ad with his mother.
He also struggled with mental health at a young age and was arrested for driving under the influence in 2019.
Last month, Presley’s sister Kaia revealed how his drug use and mental health struggles had affected their family.
‘When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,’ she told Vogue.
Last November, Presley revealed he had taken a step back from social media to ‘take care of my own mental health for a bit’.
One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video. He listed medication he takes for ‘night terrors’ and ‘panic attacks’.
‘I feel like honesty is the best policy,’ he began before sharing that he was on 1mg of Buprenorphine, used to treat both pain and opioid use disorders, twice a day.
Presley also shared that the ‘benzos have been fluctuating up and down depending on what’s been going on in my life’.
Benzodiazepines help ‘slow down activity in your brain and nervous system’ to treat ‘anxiety and related mental health conditions’, per Cleveland Clinic.
‘Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I am where I’m at now,’ he shared.
He did not go into detail about the ‘loss’ he referenced, but went on to explain that he also takes a dose of Xanax at night or when his ‘panic attacks are really, really bad’.
Presley pictured in his last Instagram post, from August 5
The model then listed Valium, admitting that he didn’t know exactly how much he’d been taking as he said, ‘Who f****** knows any more.’
He noted in the Instagram reel that ‘doctors say a lot of different things so it’s kind of scary. But hopefully between my research and their research and the world and God, we can finally figure this out.’
Presley also talked about the lack of ‘direction’ he has from doctors when it comes to his medication.
‘I’d like doctors to be like, “Take this three times a day.” But every psychiatrist I’ve had – and I’ve had 15 – are like, “Here’s 20 medications and take this if you feel like this, take this as needed.”
‘And I’m like, “No, don’t give me that much leeway.” I need some direction,’ he continued.
Kaia told Vogue that witnessing her brother’s honesty was ‘refreshing’.
‘My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything – and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, “I’m gonna be very human for everyone.” There’s only so much you can hide from the world,’ she said.
‘And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.’
Last November, Presley was open with his mental health and told how he had taken a ‘step back’ to take care of himself
One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video and talked about medication he was taking to help with his ‘night terrors’ and ‘panic attacks’
Presley Gerber and sister Kaia watching the LA Lakers basketball team in February 2024
Brooklyn Beckham and Paris Hilton led tributes to their friend on Monday. Brooklyn took to Instagram to share an image showing him and Presley posing together alongside the caption: ‘I am so heartbroken. Presley you were the kindest and we are going to miss you so much x we love you.’
Paris commented on the model’s final Instagram post just hours before news of his passing, before posting an Instagram story of herself with Presley with the caption: ‘I’m completely heartbroken. I still can’t believe this is real…
‘Presley, you were such a beautiful soul. So sweet, sensitive, kind and genuine. I cared about you so much, and I’m going to miss you more than words can say.’
Brooklyn took to Instagram to share an image showing him and Presley posing together alongside the caption: ‘I am so heartbroken. Presley you were the kindest and we are going to miss you somuch x we love you.’
Only hours before news of his shock passing came to light, Paris had commented on the final post, which saw him modeling clothes from the brand Vuori. She wrote: ‘Love you bro,’ she wrote with a heart-face emoji and the heart hands emoji.
The Hills star Brody also posted on Presley’s final Instagram post from last month to share a dove and broken heart emoji with the words: ‘love you brother’.
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