The Case of

Elvis Presley

Polysubstance Dependence- the use of at least three different substances for at least six months,

with no substance predominating.

•Born: Jan. 8, 1935

•Twin still-born 35 minutes before Elvis

• Family was extremely poor and moved often

• When age 4, father spent three years in prison

• Mother known to be excessively protective of her only child

• Mom was very tense and nervous

• Often took medicine for her “bad nerves”

• Reasonable happy childhood• Moved to Memphis, moving

into public housing in 1949

• From 1956-1958 his stardom reached unbelievable heights, selling over 142 gold records worldwide

•Drafted into the U.S. army in 1958

•Mom refused to speak with him –left alone for first time

•Mom’s health began to deteriorate, in constant state of depression and fits of anger

• While Elvis was in the army mom began drinking heavily and was eventually diagnosed with hepatitis

• Mom dies August 1958• Devastated by the news Elvis begins a period of

isolation

•At age 33, marries Priscilla

•Lisa Marie is born 9 months later

•Has first #1 hit in seven years (Suspicious Minds, 1969)

•Emotionally drained and destructive living habits

•Began promiscuous behavior

•Out of sync sleeping schedule

•Poor eating habits

•Increasing dependence and abuse of prescription drugs

• From the time Priscilla sued for divorce in 1973 until his death, Elvis’s weight and drug used increased markedly

• Experienced numerous physical disorders• Heavily sedated for several days after

discovering Priscilla was involved with someone else

• By 1974 often spent days at a time in his room at Graceland

• Began wild spending sprees• Often seemed confused and sweated profusely• Giggle fits on stage• Increasing drug use

•In the 32 months prior to his death, his physician allegedly prescribed 19,000 prescriptions (claimed many were placebos)

•His pastime toward the end was studying medical and prescription books

Bio-Science laboratories stated Presley died of polypharmacy with the following substances in his body tissues:

1. codeine 5. Demerol2. Steroids/ACTH 6. Amobarbital3. Valium 7. Phenobarbital4. Ethchlorvynol 8. Methaqualone – very high