Presley Gerber Detailed Addiction Struggles and ibogaine Treatment Ahead of Death
Cindy Crawford's son, Presley Gerber, shared his journey toward overcoming addiction and confronting his fears in the months leading up to his passing at 27.
Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, candidly discussed his efforts to confront his addiction and the challenges he faced in the six months preceding his death at a rehab center. In March, Gerber shared a video from a wellness clinic in Cancun, Mexico, where he participated in a ritual and prayer, describing it as a "quiet moment before everything changed."
"I was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this," Gerber wrote, reflecting on the experience. "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."
He expressed hope that the experience would be the last time he needed such intensive treatment, stating, "Praying it’s the last time I have to come back. Next time I’d like to choose."
Gerber, who made his modeling debut at age 16, turned to ibogaine, a psychoactive substance derived from the root bark of the West African shrub Tabernanthe iboga. Ibogaine is known for its potential in treating opioid addiction, and research, including studies from Stanford, has explored its efficacy in treating conditions like traumatic brain injuries.
His family expressed pride in his efforts. His sister, Kaia Gerber, called him a "warrior" who "walked thru the fire to find yourself." His father, Rande Gerber, commended his son's "courage" and "strength" in facing difficulties.
Gerber died at an undisclosed rehabilitation facility. An autopsy has not yet been completed. He had publicly spoken about his struggles with addiction over the past decade. In 2024, he disclosed a severe, multi-year opiate addiction and a near-fatal fentanyl overdose that resulted in a coma. He also revealed a dependency on prescription medications, including antidepressants and Xanax, which he took for panic attacks.
In a video shared last December, Gerber noted the impact of recent losses on his mental state, stating, "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."
Kaia Gerber had previously spoken about her brother's battle, telling Vogue in an interview just a month before his death that family struggles with addiction "kind of level everyone."