Presley’s death at a treatment facility has also prompted broader questions about responsibility when an overdose occurs during treatment or recovery. USA TODAY spoke with Southern California wrongful-death attorney John J. Perlstein about when a treatment facility could potentially face liability in an overdose death.
Presley Gerber attends an event in 2017, years before his struggles with mental health and addiction became a more public part of his story. | Source: Getty Images
Perlstein told the publication that overdose deaths “unfortunately” occur “quite often” at treatment centers, particularly “because you’re in there with a lot of people who were addicted to drugs and know how to get drugs.”
However, there is currently no finding that the facility caused or contributed to Presley’s death. Resolutions Living did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment, according to the outlet.
The investigation into Presley’s death comes against the backdrop of years in which he had spoken publicly about mental health, addiction and treatment. In 2023, Presley appeared on the Studio 22 podcast and discussed his own experiences with mental health and substance use.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” he said.
Presley Gerber is seen during his March 2026 trip to Cancun, where he traveled for ibogaine treatment as part of his efforts to address his struggles with addiction and mental health. | Source: Instagram/presleygerber
He had also spoken about treatment in other public appearances, including discussing approaches he had explored while trying to address his struggles.
In a March social media post, Presley shared footage from before he underwent what he described as an “ibogaine flood dose.” “Quiet moment before everything changed,” he wrote in the caption. “I was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this.”
