Destined to Die Young is the definitive examination of why the world lost Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977, when he was only forty-two years old. Author Sally Hoedel has painstakingly researched the subject and offers factual and scientific data-plus never-before-published information she gained by interviewing people who personally knew Elvis-to support her claim that Elvis Presley was never going to live a long life. In this well-documented book, Hoedel explores how prescription medication was only one aspect of his compromised health and did not ultimately cause his demise. She examines Elvis Presley-a son, husband, father, and devoted friend-while ploughing through the negative hype and legendary myths surrounding the man. Elvis' downward spiral of health struggles is presented and, for the first time ever, it is revealed that he suffered from disease in nine of eleven bodily systems, five of which were present from birth. This book dispels the long-held theory that abuse of prescription drugs is what killed Elvis.