Presley Gerber Called Rehab a 'Trap,' Slammed AA and Psych Meds Before Death: 'They Want You in the Cycle'

Presley Gerber had criticised traditional rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous and psychiatric medication before his death at 27, describing the recovery system as a 'trap' and accusing those involved of wanting people to remain in a cycle of treatment.

'They want you in the cycle,' Gerber said while discussing what he called 'classic rehab, AA, NA' and the established recovery process. His remarks have taken on renewed attention after the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber died on 20 September at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. Police are investigating his death as a suspected overdose, although his official cause and manner of death remain undetermined.

Presley Gerber Called Traditional Rehab a 'Trap'

Gerber had been outspoken about his experiences with addiction, mental health treatment and recovery, while sharply questioning conventional approaches to treating substance dependency.

In the video, Gerber also questioned whether financial incentives could encourage continued reliance on medication, suggesting that patients who needed prescriptions could become repeat or 'lifetime' customers.

He then turned his criticism towards rehabilitation and recovery programmes, saying: 'Classic rehab, AA, NA, the legal and the recommended process.'

Gerber also questioned the use of psychiatric medication during recovery, arguing that people could be considered sober while being 'more chemically enhanced' than when they had been self-medicating.

'I think, unfortunately, people don't see past the trap that doctors and people in the recovery community want to keep addicts in,' Gerber said.

He later added: 'It's a trap, and they want you in the trap. They want you in the cycle.'

Gerber did not provide evidence in the video for his broader allegations about doctors, government policy or the recovery industry, and he did not identify specific individuals or organisations.

Gerber Raised Concerns About Psychiatric Medication

Gerber had previously spoken publicly about his mental health and substance-use struggles, as well as the prescription medicines he was taking while seeking treatment for panic attacks and other symptoms.

In a December 2025 Instagram video, he said he had consulted as many as 15 psychiatrists and wanted clearer guidance about managing his medication. He discussed taking buprenorphine, Xanax and Valium and expressed concerns about dependency and withdrawal.

'The doctors say a lot of different things, so it's kind of scary,' Gerber said at the time.

He also said he was uncomfortable being given significant discretion over when to take certain medicines, explaining that he wanted more direction from medical professionals.

Presley Gerber Sought Alternative Addiction Treatment

Despite his criticism of conventional rehab, Gerber continued seeking treatment for addiction and his mental health struggles.

In March 2026, he shared footage from Mexico before undergoing what he described as an 'ibogaine flood dose'. Ibogaine is a psychoactive substance that has been studied for potential use in treating substance-use disorders but is not approved for medical use in the US.

Gerber said he had been 'absolutely terrified' before the treatment but believed confronting what he had been avoiding could help him find his way back to himself.

His struggles had stretched across years, with his sister, model Kaia Gerber, recently describing addiction as something that had deeply affected their family.

What Happened to Presley Gerber?

Santa Monica police responded to a possible overdose at about 9:35am on 20 September and found Gerber dead. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 9:45am. Police said detectives are investigating a suspected overdose and there is currently no indication of foul play.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said an examination had been completed, but Gerber's cause and manner of death were deferred pending additional testing or studies.

Officials cautioned that such cases can take several months before a final determination is made.