Drugs & Alcohol

Hayden Panettiere turned "deep purple" as she died from a drug overdose in a South Carolina apartment ... and pressed pills laced with fentanyl were found on a table near her body, TMZ has confirmed.  

The Greenville County Medical Examiner released a more detailed investigative report Tuesday after first announcing Hayden's cause and manner of death. In the statement, the M.E. said Hayden had in her system a combination of fentanyl, anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, a muscle relaxer, and a drug used to treat major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

According to the detailed report, obtained by TMZ, a senior deputy coroner responded to an Airbnb in Greenville, SC, where Hayden was staying with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, after the actress had died on August 16.

Dr. Drew thinks Presley Gerber shouldn't have even been in a rehab facility to begin with ... he thinks the model should've been sent to a psychiatric hospital.

We had Dr. Drew on "The TMZ Podcast," and he told us Cindy Crawford's son might have done better in a hospital environment ... because he believes Presley was in over his head managing all of the meds the model reported he was on.

Presley was reportedly taking what Dr. Drew calls a "deadly combination" ... mixing Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction, with benzos -- a combo Presley himself apparently admitted to taking in a since-deleted 2025 Instagram video.

Hayden Panettiere's cause of death has been revealed ... the actress died from fentanyl and several other drugs.

The Greenville County Coroner, in a report obtained by TMZ, ruled Hayden's manner of death as an accident. She was also found to have the following in her system -- Alprazolam (generic Xanax), a muscle relaxant called Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine ... a drug used to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression.

As we reported ... Hayden died August 16 inside a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment after traveling from L.A. with her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.

Presley Gerber's doctor was prescribing him ketamine despite his known issues with the substance ... TMZ has learned.

People who were in regular contact with Presley and who have direct knowledge tell TMZ ... a doctor was giving him ketamine despite knowing about his drug addiction issues. Ketamine can be used to treat drug addiction, though that's not its FDA-approved intention.

Ketamine was a regular problem for Presley, we're told ... and close friends are angry the doctor prescribed the substance to him -- and they think the doc should be prosecuted.

Presley Gerber often traveled with a 24/7 sober coach who helped care for him in the months leading up to his death ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Presley's sober coach was very present in his life over the last several months. We're told the coach frequently traveled with the model and provided around-the-clock support.

It's unclear whether the coach was with Presley when he died Sunday at a luxury rehab facility in Santa Monica, CA.

George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney are standing by close friends Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber following the death of their son Presley ... paying a quiet visit to the grieving family.

The couple was photographed arriving at daughter Kaia Gerber's Los Angeles home in a black SUV, with George waiting beside the vehicle as Amal stepped out.

George and Rande have been close for decades, and their friendship famously spilled into business when they co-founded Casamigos tequila before selling the company.

Presley Gerber's former girlfriend Lexi Wood is remembering the late model for being "incredibly resilient" and fighting "so hard for his life."

The "Summer House" alum shared a post Tuesday honoring Presley, looking back at the time she spent with the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.

Lexi says ... "It's hard to put into words what it means to lose someone who was such a meaningful part of my life for so many years."

She says Presley "fought so hard for his life and he was brave enough to be open about that fight. More than anything, he wanted to use his story to help other people, and he did."

Presley Gerber's body has been released after authorities finished their autopsy ... TMZ has learned.

Online records indicate the body has been let go ... though it doesn't say who is currently in custody of it. His cause of death is still "deferred" for now.

As you know ... Presley died on Sunday at a Los Angeles-area rehab facility. Our sources say his death appeared to be an overdose.

Presley Gerber showing up to a sober-living facility while seemingly intoxicated isn't odd, so says an executive in the recovery industry ... and he tells us lots of people are getting a final fix before trying to get clean.

Nick Mathews -- a CEO in the rehab and sober living space -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday to discuss Presley's shocking death at a Santa Monica rehab facility.

Charles asked Nick if people should be surprised that Presley did not appear sober when he checked in the night before he died.

Nick tells us many addicts are intoxicated when they arrive after one last night of partying, and sobriety isn't always a precursor to getting into a rehab facility.

Presley Gerber's ex-girlfriend is "very angry" that the model died at 27 from a suspected overdose in a rehab facility ... and she says he didn't deserve to die young.

Charlotte D'Alessio posted a series of sweet snaps with her former flame on her Instagram stories, including one where she wrote ... "Shared a pure love with you & for that I thank & honor your life."

She continued ... "You deserved more time. You deserved more life. Very angry ab this."

Presley Gerber appeared under the influence of a substance when he checked into the luxury rehab home where he would later die ... TMZ has learned.

Sources who had contact with Presley in his final hours tell TMZ he did not appear sober when he arrived at the Santa Monica facility Saturday night, while seeking help for substance abuse issues.

As we first reported ... the 27-year-old model was found unresponsive at the home Sunday morning and cops responded to a suspected overdose call around 9:35 AM.

Carrot Top was handed a $2 million demand just days before his attempted suicide ... and within hours, his lawyer was telling the court the comedian was being extorted ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained a pair of emails laying out the heated legal battle that unfolded last Monday -- four days before Carrot Top was hospitalized.

In the first message, Brian Evans -- whom Carrot Top's team has accused of extortion -- proposed a $2 million deal to end the legal fight involving himself, Carrot Top -- real name Scott Thompson -- and several others.

Police investigating Presley Gerber's suspected overdose interviewed other people living at the rehab facility where he died as they try to find the source of the alleged drugs that potentially killed him ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the investigation tell TMZ ... the probe is in its early stages, but one of the first orders of business is finding out if Presley took drugs, and where he got them.

We're told authorities are looking into whether or not Presley was prescribed the drugs he allegedly took or if he got them from a dealer or friend ... and finding the potential source is key.

Our sources say cops have already conducted interviews with folks who were at the rehab facility when he died.

Presley Gerber was living at a rehab facility in Santa Monica before his death Sunday ... and TMZ has details of the recovery program offered at the facility.

The rehab website describes its Santa Monica operation as a "structured recovery residence," rather than a traditional hospital or detox center.

According to the company's website, the program is designed for people transitioning out of more intensive treatment and trying to rebuild their lives in a supervised, sober environment.

The program specifically works with people dealing with substance abuse issues, mental-health conditions, trauma, eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders.

Carrot Top was hospitalized following a suspected overdose from prescription pills ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Clark County Fire Department tells TMZ ... crews responded to the comedian's Las Vegas home around 4:20 PM Friday after receiving a call about a 61-year-old male who was "not alert."

We're told a City of Las Vegas ambulance and a private ambulance responded. Carrot Top's condition was unknown at the scene, and he was transported to a hospital by the private ambulance.

Sources familiar with the investigation tell TMZ ... Carrot Top took prescription medication before suffering the suspected overdose.

Presley Gerber may have hoped to fend off his addiction issues with ibogaine, but one expert says it's not as simple as taking a magic pill ... diving into the realities of the treatment.

Bryan Hubbard, the CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, joined "TMZ Live" Monday to discuss the psychoactive drug that Presley took a few months before his death.

Bryan described the substance for us in detail ... explaining how it's known to rewrite neural pathways -- and give people with addiction a fighting chance against their demons. He also notes a major risk with ibogaine.