“He Knew About the Addiction”: Presley Gerber’s doctor is under fire for prescribing ketamine despite his well-known problems with the drug

Presley Gerber ’s death has raised new questions about the treatment he received for addiction, with people close to him now pointing to a doctor who allegedly prescribed ketamine despite knowing his history with the drug. Gerber died at a rehab facility on Sunday, September 20 and is believed to have suffered an overdose, but his official cause of death remains pending as the coroner conducts and investigation.

His autopsy has been completed, leaving toxicology results to provide further clarity but the story has taken a twist as people who were in regular contact with Gerber told TMZ that his doctor knew about his addiction issues when the substance was prescribed. Ketamine had been a recurring problem for him and as his final hours have become another focus of the investigation people who had contact with Gerber said he appeared under the influence when he reached the rehab center. Local law enforcement and investigators have questioned other patients and enquiries remain ongoing. For now, the loss of a young life is the tragic element and one of his friends said Cindy Crawford ’s son was battling “demons” unrelated to fame. “He had demons. Not all related to being a celebrity kid,” a source who got to know Gerber over recent years told Page Six. “It’s tough because you never know if someone wants to be your friend or wants something.”

Gerber death brings up memories of Matthew Perry

The similarities between Gerber and Matthew Perry have also attracted attention too due to their deep and public struggles with addiction and their connections to ketamine. Both had documented problems with substance use, while ketamine became part of their treatment for substance abuse, as Perry had been prescribed the drug for depression and anxiety before his death in 2023. But the circumstances surrounding their deaths, however, are not identical as the Friends actor's death was officially attributed to the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and other factors also contributing. Five people were later charged in connection with helping him obtain lethal doses of the drug and convicted, with one woman named Jasveen Sangha , sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in Perry ’s death. Whilst in the months before his death, Gerber had pursued alternative addiction treatments, including ibogaine, a psychoactive substance that some believe can help people struggling with drug dependence. With the autopsy complete but the official cause of death still pending, questions surrounding Gerber ’s treatment, his struggles with ketamine and the circumstances before his death remain unresolved. The source of any drugs involved in Gerber's death remains under investigation, but the comparison therefore raises questions about the risks surrounding ketamine and addiction and its devastating consequences.