The Elvis Cover Up

[utmom2008]

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.

You are right on all accounts Mister T. In 1977 rehab consisted of checking into BMH for a few days while your body goes through detox and rids itself of all drugs. In '77 no one realized that detox was the easy part...no one knew that the mental part of addiction was the key to recovery. The first time my MIL went to rehab was 1981..and it was still a "new" idea. The family finally located one in Louisiana.

[midnight]

Rosanne, is your MIL still alive? How did she do with the addiction?

[utmom2008]

Rosanne, is your MIL still alive? How did she do with the addiction?

No, she passed away in August of 2001. She had a heart attack following an operation from breast cancer. She was in rehab twice between the years of 1981 and 1995. In 1981 she went to rehab for an addiction to prescription meds. She had only been home a few months when she turned to vodka. She had a fender bender sometime in the late 80's with one of her grandkids(not mine!) and went back to rehab for the alcohol addiction. THEN......as a last resort, she began taking HUGE amounts of Benadryl. One evening in '95 my hubs found her in the garage with the car keys in her hand, passed out. She went from the hospital to an assisted-living home after that where she was completely clean until her death. One of her MAIN problems with rehab is that she would never stay long enough to deal with the mental side of addiction. Much like Elvis' situation, she assumed once her body was free of whatever chemical she was using that she was fine. NOT the case....AT ALL!

[MissyM]

So sad Rosie.

[Stryx]

Well said.

His denial of his problem in Denver to his police buddies showed how much he didn't seem to want to stop.

He also made that comment to Linda about being self destructive.

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.

[KPM]

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.

It worked with me-I was a kicking, cussing and screaming hated everyone but had no choice. It took a couple years to straighten out with not just the initial 6 weeks but constant therapy and counseling weekly. The idea that I wanted to get straight and thats why I did-is funny to me. I wanted to deny, deny , deny. So I have to say-forced help can work. Not just in my case but many cases.

[Brian]

It worked with me-I was a kicking, cussing and screaming hated everyone but had no choice. It took a couple years to straighten out with not just the initial 6 weeks but constant therapy and counseling weekly. The idea that I wanted to get straight and thats why I did-is funny to me. I wanted to deny, deny , deny. So I have to say-forced help can work. Not just in my case but many cases.

Hi Ken

what were you addicted to?

[presley31]

It worked with me-I was a kicking, cussing and screaming hated everyone but had no choice. It took a couple years to straighten out with not just the initial 6 weeks but constant therapy and counseling weekly. The idea that I wanted to get straight and thats why I did-is funny to me. I wanted to deny, deny , deny. So I have to say-forced help can work. Not just in my case but many cases.

agree KPM and thats pretty much how l was when l was having drugs problems.

[midnight]

No, she passed away in August of 2001. She had a heart attack following an operation from breast cancer. She was in rehab twice between the years of 1981 and 1995. In 1981 she went to rehab for an addiction to prescription meds. She had only been home a few months when she turned to vodka. She had a fender bender sometime in the late 80's with one of her grandkids(not mine!) and went back to rehab for the alcohol addiction. THEN......as a last resort, she began taking HUGE amounts of Benadryl. One evening in '95 my hubs found her in the garage with the car keys in her hand, passed out. She went from the hospital to an assisted-living home after that where she was completely clean until her death. One of her MAIN problems with rehab is that she would never stay long enough to deal with the mental side of addiction. Much like Elvis' situation, she assumed once her body was free of whatever chemical she was using that she was fine. NOT the case....AT ALL!

It must be so difficult to see someone you love do that to themselves! It is still so misunderstood in society.The thing is with addiction is that it starts out as a mental illness and ends up being very physical because of all the damage that it does to your organs. Maybe that is what happened to your MIL heart. Very sad indeed.

[minni1]

Its a very complicated situation.

Dr Nick could have walked away - you are correct. But he chose to stay and he tried to find out exactly what Elvis was getting elsewhere. They tried placebos on Elvis, they did about as much as they could - Elvis didn't want to give up.

Really? Were you there? Did you see this happen, first hand?