Months after the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry at age 54, new details about his fatal ketamine overdose have emerged. Perry had been undergoing ketamine therapy to treat his depression and anxiety, but had also been using the drug unsupervised and had become addicted. Five people have been charged in connection with Perry’s death, including his personal assistant, two doctors, and a drug dealer. Ketamine is a popular party drug with psychedelic effects, also used for medical purposes as an anesthetic.
The cause of Matthew Perry’s death was determined to be acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. The amount of ketamine in his system was equivalent to that used for general anesthesia before surgery. Contributing factors to his death included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder. Perry was found at his home in Pacific Palisades after an apparent drowning, and no foul play was suspected.
Perry has openly discussed his struggles with addiction over the years, including in his book “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” He had a three-decade-long battle with addiction, dealing with alcohol and Vicodin dependence. He has been to rehab more than a dozen times, spent over $7 million on rehab and therapy, and experienced multiple near-death experiences due to his substance abuse. His therapist helped him overcome his addiction by associating drugs with the consequences of wearing a colostomy bag for the rest of his life.
In 2019, Perry’s colon erupted from opioid overuse, resulting in emergency surgery, a two-week coma, and a five-month hospitalization. He was given a 2% chance of surviving the night after surgery. Perry also had a near-death experience while in rehab in Switzerland, where his heart stopped for five minutes but he was revived with CPR. The incident caused him to miss out on an opportunity to star alongside Meryl Streep in a movie.
Perry wrote about using ketamine therapy to ease pain and help with depression in his memoir. He described the experience as a “giant exhale” where he would disassociate and see things while listening to music and receiving the IV treatment. Ketamine therapy has been shown to be an effective short-term treatment for depression that has not responded to other treatments. Perry’s addiction struggles and eventual overdose shed light on the challenges faced by individuals dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues.
The ongoing investigation into Matthew Perry’s death continues to uncover more details about his struggles with addiction, as well as the circumstances surrounding his fatal ketamine overdose. His openness about his challenges with addiction and mental health has inspired discussions about the importance of seeking help and the dangers of unsupervised drug use. Perry’s legacy serves as a reminder of the complexities and difficulties of overcoming addiction, as well as the importance of addressing mental health issues with professional support and treatment.
