The death of actor Matthew Perry due to a ketamine overdose has led to charges against five individuals, including Perry’s assistant and two doctors, who supplied him with the drug. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced the charges, stating that the doctors supplied Perry with a large amount of ketamine and even discussed how much money the actor would be willing to pay for it. The defendants took advantage of Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves, according to Estrada.
Perry received multiple injections of ketamine on the day he died from his live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who later found him dead. Two of the defendants, including one of the doctors, have been arrested, while Iwamasa and another defendant have pleaded guilty to charges. The prosecutor revealed that the defendants exchanged messages referencing ketamine as the cause of Perry’s death and tried to cover up their involvement in supplying him with the drug.
Los Angeles police, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, have been investigating Perry’s death to determine why he had such a high amount of ketamine in his system. The autopsy report released in December showed that the levels of ketamine in Perry’s blood were in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. While Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, the medical examiner stated that his last treatment 1 1/2 weeks earlier would not explain the high levels of ketamine found in his blood.
The drug ketamine has seen a rise in use in recent years as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain. Perry’s medical exam revealed that two doctors were treating him, a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist who served as his primary care physician, but no illicit drugs or paraphernalia were found at his home. Ketamine was listed as the primary cause of Perry’s death, ruled an accident with no foul play suspected.
Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit television show “Friends,” had a history of addiction issues dating back to his time on the show. He struggled with addiction throughout his career, highlighting the challenges that many individuals in the entertainment industry face. Perry became one of the biggest television stars of his generation during his time on “Friends” and continued to work in the industry after the show concluded in 2004.
The tragic death of Matthew Perry has shed light on the dangers of addiction and the abuse of prescription drugs in Hollywood. The charges against the individuals involved in supplying Perry with ketamine highlight the importance of holding accountable those who contribute to the addiction and overdose of individuals struggling with substance abuse. As the investigation into Perry’s death continues, it serves as a reminder of the need for greater awareness and resources to combat addiction in the entertainment industry and beyond.
