The iconic 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry passed away due to the acute impact of the anesthetic ketamine, as per his autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
The report highlighted that the 54-year-old actor drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” though it was considered a secondary factor in his accidental death on October 28. Additional contributors to his demise were considered to be "drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects."
Perry was announced dead after he was found unresponsive at his residence in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, prompting investigators to conduct an autopsy the very next day.
Despite having a history of using drugs, the actor had been "reportedly clean for 19 months" before his passing, as per the report. The coroner indicated that he had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to deal with depression and anxiety, with his last treatment being around 10-12 days before his death. Although ketamine's effects are brief, “the source of the ketamine found in Perry's system remains unclear.” Given that ketamine leaves the body in about 3-4 hours, the fact that the ketamine found in his blood was on higher levels, raises the possibility of exposure outside of his regular infusion routine.
For those unaware, Pacific Neuroscience Institute claims, “Ketamine therapy is used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life distress, chronic pain, drug/alcohol problems, and more.”
Dr. Johnson, a well-known neuroscientist also pointed out the dangers of mixing ketamine with buprenorphine, calling it "a recipe for disaster." The report acknowledges ketamine's misuse for "recreational purposes at parties." However, it doesn't state whether Perry misused or illegally obtained the drug.
According to the report, Perry engaged in pickleball earlier in the day. His assistant, who lived with him, discovered him face down in the pool upon returning from running errands. The assistant informed investigators that Perry hadn't shown symptoms of any illness, hadn't complained about his health, and hadn't consumed alcohol or drug.
Back when he was shooting 'Friends' in the 1990s, Perry openly discussed his struggles with substance use. "I loved everything about the show but I was struggling with my addictions which only added to my sense of shame,” he wrote in his 2022 memoir. “I had a secret and no one could know.”
