I've often wondered if Elvis hadn't been given uppers in the army to keep from falling asleep would he have still found his way into taking prescription drugs?
It seems to me that the action of giving him those pills started him on a downslide in his life that ultimately caused him to die young. I know we can't really fault the army for his addictive personality but what if drugs hadn't been dispensed so easily in those days?
Diane
No, I do not blame the army for his drug addiction. It's all about choices and he made the choice to continue taking these uppers when he was discharged. Also, I think his financial status and popularity made it very easy for him to obtain these drugs while in the army and after he was discharged.
Last edited by ehollier; 08-26-2008 at 06:38 AM.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Good question Diane...
Most likely, Elvis would have found his way into the prescription drug usage anyway, but I do often think that him being introduced to them so early on did have an effect. Elvis seemed to have an addictive personality...which made it very hard for him to stop using them once he started. And too, although he made the choice to use them, I have to argue that once hooked, the person loses sight of the fact that they actually have a problem. Most of the time, they will swear that they can quit whenever they want...but they just don't want to quit. This is not always true, as we all know. But it is a vicious cycle that usually does not have a happy ending.
Daddy, I miss you more every day. You will always be my hero..
How very true!!!Originally Posted by ehollier
The One and Only King of Rock'n'Roll.
I don't blame the army cause elvis could of stopped, but he didn't.
In fact, it is reported that he did stop taking drugs, at least on a few occasions, after he was discharged.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
maybe he did but if you want to believe what in revevations book says elvis was already getting into the pills before the army.
Ok, Elvis was responsible for keeping up with the uppers and then other drugs after he got out of the army but it also makes me wonder how many other young men got caught in the same trap that we never hear about because they weren't famous.
I do believe in unablers though and he had plenty around to help him get into other pills later on that led to his downfall.
Pharmaceutical companies are as bad to me as EPE....it's all for the $$$$$ and unfortunately, too many doctors are in on it and always have been. It's one of my pet peeves of our society.
Diane
I think if elvis didn't like what they did to him than maybe he wouldn't of got hooked, but thats another story which l have no idea if thats true or not.
If Elvis didn't like what the pills did to him he wouldn't have kept on with them. The trouble is with addicts, they DO like it and that's why they don't quit before it's too late.
Diane
Somtimes l wonder how different things would of turned out if elvis got off the pills and was pill free though his life?? Would he able to get up with the touring and the pressures that came with being elvis presley?
I honestly don't know Jen. I would hope he could have but done less of it and taken more vacations in Hawaii or whatever. He was so tired of it all by then though...I don't know.
Diane
Do you remember if Billy agreed with this, or if it was Lamar's claim alone? Because Marty, at least when he was posting on AEK, seemed to go along with the generally accepted view that Elvis' drug problem started in the Army.maybe he did but if you want to believe what in revevations book says elvis was already getting into the pills before the army.
I can't really remember NYC, but l don't have alot of faith in what lamer says, maybe if someone has that book on hand can post what billy smith says about that?
I question that too. The only place I've ever read anything about this was on a post here when it was said that Elvis was filching his mother's diet pills but that doesn't make sense as Elvis did not have a weight problem at the time and I'm not familiar with those pills but I can't see that he would have gotten a high on them or any other reason for him wanting to take them.
Diane
No, it was his choice to make.
Security is not the absence of danger but the presence of God no matter what the danger.
I would surmise that if he was taking his mother's diet pills, it wasn't for his weight, but rather for the energy since he was touring and making movies and I would imagine that he needed the extra energy.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Those pills to stay awake on cold nights certainly were not provided by the US Army.
My bet is the guys in the army (Elvis' mates at the time) shared those pills amongst each other.
I spent some cold winter in the army in Germany, and no army will provide you with stuff like that!
Usually you try to stay warm inside your Jeep or Landrover.Of course you are not allowed to leave the engine running to keep the heater going, but we did just that some nights!!
Until officers would come by and tell you to shut it down. After they left engines back on!
see two different things once again from lamer, this says elvis stated pills in the army and lamer said different so l will go with careless love
It's early on in Germany that Elvis is introduced to amphetamines by a sergeant who recommends speed as a way to stay alert on late-night maneuvers. Elvis innocently begins to believe the uppers will allow him to continue his own late-night maneuvers while meeting his usual daytime obligations to the Army tank corps.
source:http://www.providencephoenix.com/arc.../07/ELVIS.html
it's been said in other books (IIRC) that he did get into the uppers during the early touring days in the 1950s.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
