Actor Matthew Perry was found dead in a pool after an accidental overdose of ketamine. He had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, but the levels found in his system were too high to be from therapy. Contributing factors to his death included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine used to treat opioid use disorder. Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” had been clean for 19 months before his death.
Law enforcement is investigating the source of the ketamine Perry consumed, a popular party drug that has shown promise as a treatment for depression. The arrest made in connection with Perry’s death is a common occurrence in high-profile cases involving drug-related deaths. For example, Michael Jackson’s private physician was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for giving the singer a fatal dose of drugs, and four men were charged for supplying actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin that caused his death in 2021.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Perry’s death an accident due to the acute effects of ketamine. Perry’s struggles with opioid addiction and alcoholism were well-documented, but at the time of his death, he had been clean. The investigation into Perry’s death highlights the dangers of drug use, even with substances that are being explored for medical purposes.
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