Elvis Became An Addict In The Army

Elvis Presley's death from a drug-related heart attack 40 years ago was not accidental, according to his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley — who also said The King of Rock ’n’ Roll got hooked while serving his country!

Priscilla, the mom of Elvis’ only child, Lisa Marie and an executive producer of the HBO documentary, "Elvis Presley: The Searcher," said the superstar's losing battle with obesity and pill addiction began with amphetamines in the U.S. Army when he was stationed in Germany.

“They gave them to the soldiers over there to keep them awake,” she notes in the documentary, previewed by The National ENQUIRER. “He had maneuvers that he had to do late at night, so the pills were given to the guys and that’s how he started."

Priscilla's seven-year courtship with Elvis began in Germany, where her father, U.S. Air Force officer Paul Beaulieu, was also stationed. They married seven years later, weeks before her 22nd birthday.

The heir to the King's legacy as head of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Priscilla witnessed from its khaki beginnings the addictive cycle of uppers and downers that funneled him to an early grave. “If you take a sleeping pill, you have to do something to get yourself awake," she said.

And although his excesses drove them to divorce in 1973, Priscilla remains guilt-ridden and haunted that she couldn’t stop his fatal, suicidal spiral.

“In some ways, Priscilla has always blamed herself and wondered if she could have done something to save Elvis,” noted a source. “But it seems pretty clear that he knew the end was coming and did nothing to stop it.”