What does it say about elvis' character that he manipulated many doctors, Nick included, so he good get whatever wonder drugs he wanted at that particular moment.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
It says the same thing that ANY addict says. It's called "Dr. shopping". I take it you have not had anyone in your family with a prescription drug addiction? People will tell you that my Mother-n-law had fabulous character...she also "Dr. shopped", as all addicts do. However....when one Dr. found out that she was shopping, that was the end for her. Her next step was rehab!Originally Posted by Col Jon Burrows
It's sad Elvis was not strong enough to see his problem and realize he had one, and check himself into an institution.It says the same thing that ANY addict says. It's called "Dr. shopping". I take it you have not had anyone in your family with a prescription drug addiction? People will tell you that my Mother-n-law had fabulous character...she also "Dr. shopped", as all addicts do. However....when one Dr. found out that she was shopping, that was the end for her. Her next step was rehab!
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Few addicts ever really do...in our case my MIL's 3 grown children made the decision for her. Also...keep in mind that 54% of all addicts will relapse..usually within the 1st year. Over 60% have multiple relapses..as my MIL did. Addiction is not an easy thing to toss aside...EVER.
Last edited by utmom2008; 09-09-2008 at 10:29 PM.
Apparently Elvis had stuff hidden in the seams of the curtains in his bedroom.
Nick also had Knoll produce a special batch of 1000 Dilaudid without any active ingredients.
It says to me that he thought he had it under control, and that he felt he knew best what his mind and body needed in order to get from day to day.
That is the MO of most addicts of any kind. Add in legit reasons to take medications and you have someone who is always looking for the "new miracle" to cure lifes problems mental and physical.
Drug companies have proclaimed the wonder drugs as miracles since the late 40s and with each new find there is a mad rush to the doctor by people who want that miracle (Elvis is not alone in this area) the benefits are always in bold type and the side affects, and drawbacks are in the smallest type available. If Elvis had lived to see the commercials on TV spouting the new drugs and "natural remedies" he would have had a field day. By the time the drawbacks are common knowledge-the damage is done.
Doctors many times do not understand the latest drugs-a pharmacutical salesman visits the docs every week to give out the newest samples of the newest wonder drugs and the docs hand them out according to symptoms and known diseases of that person. 10 years down the road the problems are known.
Look at Del Shannon who killed himself and the drug Prozac was thought to play a part in his suicide. Prozac was for depression-yet it has a warning about suicide in its prescriptions information?
Sure Elvis wanted the wonder drugs, they are legal, made to look easy with little problem-and everyone wants that.
I don't believe anyone can judge or condemn Elvis for his addiction and the way he handled it as it was typical of all addicts. I say Walk A Mile In His Shoes and then you can spout off. Unless someone took the reins and forcefully put him into rehab, nothing was going to change....AND, it may have taken several years of going back to rehab before he finally got the message....again, typical of an addict. You cannot turn addiction on and off like a faucet. It's not only the physical side that has to be addressed, it's also the mental side that has to change.
Diane
.. oh boy, what a thread... its interesting to read all the posters,...
after all said and done... i know noone can bring Elvis back to life, sometimes its kind of upset me that he died because of the abused of drugs he did,..
at the age of 42 ? there would be ALOT that he could had done,...
When i went to las vegas...went to see Tom Jones, Engelbert, or Wayne Newton... so many times in the middle of the songs i thought of Elvis,... thinking : ' man Elvis could do this song better than Tom or Engelbert..'
Anywhoo....interesting thread,nice job everyone ...
Yes, true Diane. Elvis would have had to go to rehab for years before anything would change.
I always read that Elvis thought he knew about the pills he took, that he read-up on them and really thought that what he was doing was okay..
franny
After years being addicted to anything you know it isn't doing good to you but admiting it is forcing you to do something about it. No one will convince me Elvis didn't know deep inside he had a huge problem, at least in the latter years of his life.
Last edited by Donut; 09-14-2008 at 03:50 AM.
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I'm sure he knew deep inside he had a serious problem Donut but a "hardened" addict which he was cannot think straight for himself and denies the problem which he did. He desperately needed some outside help and he didn't get it.
Diane
Yes Diane, I know he needed outside help but I think Elvis was too used to being the boss and getting his way. No one would tell Elvis NO and that advantage that he enjoyed so much in my opinion killed him in the end...
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I believe he was very stubborn Donut and felt in control, also felt he had to maintain control over everyone and he was right. Someone had to with all the people around him all the time and the personalities and conflicts arising all around him.
But the kind of addict he was and with his personality, he needed to be forcefully put into rehab and kept there until he was able to admit that he needed help. No one did that and I doubt if the Colonel would have wanted Elvis away for any time at all.....too much of a loss of $$$$. Sad to say, but maybe even Vernon was afraid of the loss of dollars. I don't doubt he loved his son but I believe he looked out after his own skin first.
Diane
Diane
Hmmm... I don't know what to say about that Diane. I think Elvis enjoyed controlling everything and that's one of the reasons he wanted all those people around him. Don't get me wrong Diane because I'm very sad for what happened to Elvis and I wish he would be here today like many of his friends are but I think Elvis was more complex than that.
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To put someone into a facility takes a huge amount of courage-almost a
"to he11 with any consequences" attitude, you have to truely believe this persons life is on the line.
Perhaps they all thought eventually he would resurrect himself and his health. He was a man who had met challenges and they had seen him do it. But the other end is was anyone (including Vernon) prepared to say, "to he11 with the consequences"? His life is at stake.
Its just a matter of personal belief, if you believe no one can alter the lifes path of someone else then its all Elvis's fault. If you believe that others through lifes interactions- both good and bad, honest and dishonest, fair and unfair, truthful and deceitful, self serving and self effacing, giving and taking, have do have the ability to alter someones path then you do not feel Elvis is alone at fault for his situation.
Obviously from all the past discussions everyone pretty much falls into one of these camps.
It's no secret to what camp I belong in. I truly believe in the no man is an island theory and that there are enablers who have to share responsibility. I do not believe anyone is ever solely in total control of their lives. It's not possible not to be influenced by people around you unless you are made of stone.
Diane
No doubt about it Diane. Parker knew and witnessed the problem was affecting his shows but he kept Elvis touring anyway. A person in that state shouldn't be working would it be that person's wish or not.
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A complex situation however you look at it. I'd say it's more a matter of responsability than guilt. But you are right, we have discussed this many times beforeTo put someone into a facility takes a huge amount of courage-almost a
"to he11 with any consequences" attitude, you have to truely believe this persons life is on the line.
Perhaps they all thought eventually he would resurrect himself and his health. He was a man who had met challenges and they had seen him do it. But the other end is was anyone (including Vernon) prepared to say, "to he11 with the consequences"? His life is at stake.
Its just a matter of personal belief, if you believe no one can alter the lifes path of someone else then its all Elvis's fault. If you believe that others through lifes interactions- both good and bad, honest and dishonest, fair and unfair, truthful and deceitful, self serving and self effacing, giving and taking, have do have the ability to alter someones path then you do not feel Elvis is alone at fault for his situation.
Obviously from all the past discussions everyone pretty much falls into one of these camps.
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With regards to Elvis and rehab...there's one big problem...there wasn't any 'rehab' facilities to put him into like there is today. I think that's one thing that's getting lost in the conversation here....there was no Betty Ford Clinic or major drug rehab centers...and I don't think anybody wouldn've been able to 'force' him into going to rehab. An addict will only take the option of rehab if they truly want to help themselves...if they're doing it because they feel pressured from people around them, the treatments won't stick.
The only way for anyone to help him would have been mandatory committment. (Probably to a mental facility by Vernon) I know, I know, if only he would have done that, it sounds so easy right? Can you imagine the public humiliation???????????????????? OMGosh, maybe people think that would have been better????? How could it be. Elvis had a huge amount of pride.
None of us were there, none of us had to deal with him so closely. It's so easy to say what they all should have/could have done.
I tire of the talk of enabling. Maybe there simply was no other choice with out distroying him. Does anyone ever think of that? Does anyone ever think that trying to save him could have actually been the final nail in the coffin earlier... than he did it to himself????
People say that some had selfish motives, again dead Elvis the proverbial gravy train ended, why would they not try if they needed the gravy on their plates.
Try watching someone you love self-distruct, try feeling so helpless that you are in turmoil. It is no easy place to be in.
Could you have commmitted Elvis? Could you have done that too him???
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