Published: September 19, 2025, 09:15 AM EST
Priscilla Presley, the iconic widow of Elvis Presley, has shared a deeply personal and harrowing account of supporting her son, Navarone Garcia, through the agonies of fentanyl and heroin withdrawal. In an exclusive interview with People magazine on September 19, 2025 , she recounted her commitment: “I said, ‘I will absolutely help you.’ So, he stayed at my home and I slept with him every night, and he had withdrawals every night. I don’t wish that on anyone because there’s really nothing you can do. You can’t give them more drugs, that’s for sure.” This revelation highlights the raw, hands-on role family plays in addiction recovery, a story that resonates amid rising opioid crises.
Priscilla Presley Opens up About Helping Her Son Navarone Through Drug Addiction (Exclusive) https://t.co/uMDbaLuIb4
— People (@people) September 19, 2025
Navarone, 38, turned to fentanyl after the tragic 2020 suicide of his half-brother, Benjamin Keough. Priscilla described massaging his legs through excruciating pain—symptoms that can persist up to 10 days, according to a 2023 National Institute on Drug Abuse report. After a 22-day detox, a relapse into heroin underscored addiction’s relentless grip, with studies in the 2021 Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment showing 40-60% relapse rates within a year. Priscilla’s nightly presence provided emotional anchor, emphasizing that true aid means enduring the helplessness without enabling.
Her upcoming memoir, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, releasing September 23, 2025, delves deeper into these trials, tapping into a 15% increase in interest for celebrity addiction stories, as tracked by Google Trends in 2025. Now sober, Navarone credits his mother’s support, but Priscilla stresses addiction’s unpredictability, noting multiple rehab stints. This narrative challenges stigma, aligning with a 20% uptick in opioid discussions on social media (Hootsuite 2025 data), promoting resources like SAMHSA’s helpline (1-800-662-HELP).
Priscilla’s story serves as a beacon for families facing similar battles, proving love’s power in the face of despair. For more on her journey, visit the original interview link.
