Lisa Marie Presley took an astounding ’80 pills a day’ at the peak of her struggle with opioid addiction, a haunting revelation she detailed in her posthumous memoir, “From Here To The Great Unknown.”
The Struggles Behind the Headlines
In her memoir, Presley – whose life tragically ended in January 2023 due to a small bowel obstruction – vividly recounted the dark timeline of her addiction, which began after the birth of her twins in 2008. This seemingly innocuous beginning spiraled into a perilous dependence, where the number of pills consumed reached alarming levels.
The Twisting Path to Addiction
“It escalated to eighty pills a day,” Presley reflected, her words painted with anguish. “It took more and more to get high, and I honestly don’t know when your body decides it can’t deal with it anymore. But it does decide this at some point,” she mused in the stark light of hindsight. She was not just the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla; she was a woman grappling with the heavy shadows of her addiction.
In her introspective passages, she stated, “I believe that we’re all born innocent, and that everyone’s nature is innately good, but they get f—ed by their surroundings.” This poignant statement resonates as a testament to how environment shapes individual destinies. Her belief that her brain was fundamentally different was a mirror reflecting her unique struggles. “Otherwise,” she noted, “I would have had all those years in between being a stupid teenager to suddenly getting a drug habit at forty.” It is a stark reminder of how addiction can emerge unexpectedly, weaving its insidious threads into the lives of those least prepared.
Presley candidly described her initial use of painkillers as “recreational,” yet it spiraled into an “absolute matter of addiction.” Her frank acknowledgment of the gravity of her situation speaks to the depth of denial often accompanying substance abuse.
“It escalated to eighty pills a day. It took more and more to get high, and I honestly don’t know when your body decides it can’t deal with it anymore. But it does decide this at some point.”
She admitted that the prospect of running out of drugs was terrifying. “If I had fully run out of drugs, the severity of the withdrawal would have left me either in the hospital or dead.” These harrowing insights reveal the dire consequences faced by those in the throes of addiction.
Riley Keough, her daughter, contributed her voice to the memoir, reflecting on her mother’s early use of opioids. “My mother had started by taking opioids for pain after her C-section, and then she progressed to taking them to sleep.” This progression illustrates the often subtle shift from prescription relief to perilous addiction.
A Family’s Perspective on Addiction
As Riley recalls, “She had turned forty in February 2008; my sisters were born in that same year.” This timeframe marks a significant chapter in their family’s narrative, framed by major life events. While her teenage dalliance with drugs had been fleeting, her adult relationship with them became a burden she could not shake. It highlights the unpredictability of substance dependence, showing that even those who are cautious can find themselves ensnared.
“Throughout my life she would often say, ‘if I tried drugs, it would be over for me,’” described Keough, acknowledging the prescience of her mother’s fears. Reflecting on such wisdom, one might ponder the ways addiction can shadow those who strive to overcome it. It’s evident that the chains of substance abuse often go deeper than surface recognition.
Keough suggested that addiction stalked her mother, even as she sought help through various means, including Scientology and motherhood: “I think it was subconscious, but it stalked her.” This perspective offers a sobering reminder of how personal struggles can persist under the guise of normalcy.
The Final Strides in Darkness
After seeking treatment, Presley entered a court-ordered rehabilitation program, a narrative echoed across countless families grappling with similar challenges. While undergoing treatment, she made the decision to get bariatric surgery, a choice layered with complexity. Keough worried, “It was a strange time to decide to have surgery, in rehab.” This moment encapsulates the intricate dance between seeking to heal and confronting persistent addiction.
Tragically, Presley passed away in January 2023, a victim of a small bowel obstruction related to her surgery, at the age of 54. Her story speaks volumes regarding the perils of opioid dependence, reminding readers of the complex tapestry of addiction and the heavy toll it can exact. Behind the music and the glamour, there lies a narrative of struggle, resilience, and the haunting nature of any addiction—leaving those who loved her grappling with the legacy of her life and the lessons it imparts.
