Examiner Reports Reveal That Matthew Perry's Death was due to Accidental Ketamine Overdose
While the Friends actor has had a long struggle with drug abuse in the past, he had reportedly been clean for 19 months prior to his passing.
The passing of Matthew Perry in October this year was attributed to the "acute effects of ketamine," as outlined in an autopsy released by the New York Times. The medical examiner cited accidental drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of the opioid buprenorphine in his nervous system as contributing factors to his death. According to the report, the excessive levels of ketamine discovered in his post-mortem blood samples indicated that the primary lethal effects stemmed from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.
The Friends actor was discovered unconscious in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence in October 2023. The report disclosed that the ketamine infusion therapy he was undergoing had taken place approximately a week and a half before his death. The coroners determined that the ketamine detected in his system hadn't been consumed long before his demise, as the substance cannot be detected in the body after three or four hours of consumption. While it is reported that Perry was undergoing medical treatment involving the use of ketamine, his most recently documented treatment took place more than a week ago. This meant there shouldn't be traces of the dose in his system left when he was found.
Originally used as an anaesthetic, ketamine has evolved into an alternative therapy for anxiety and depression, as reported by the New York Times. However, the document also elucidates that the substance is recognised as a recreational drug, primarily due to its 'dissociative' nature, leading to a disconnection between mind and body. It may also induce short-lived hallucinatory and psychedelic effects. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, cautioned about the dangers associated with this treatment, highlighting the potential for ketamine to trigger psychiatric disorders.
