The Los Angeles Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency are investigating the origins of the drug that led to the death of beloved '90s celebrity Matthew Perry last year.
The television and movie star had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time, but his last treatment occurred more than a week before his death.
Perry was found deceased in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28. His death was attributed to “the acute effects of ketamine” and contributing factors, including drowning, according to an autopsy. There were no signs of foul play but the autopsy noted that “the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy since ketamine's half-life is three to four hours or less.”
Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat a number of conditions, including anxiety, depression and addiction issues.
IGN's Ryan Dinsdale has more information about the scope and purpose of the joint criminal investigation:
The LAPD and DEA have now opened the criminal investigation, which will look into how Perry came to have so much ketamine in his system at the time of his death and how he came to possess it in general.
Perry was open about his battle with addiction and was passionate about helping others who faced the same struggles. The entire entertainment industry was shaken by his death and a wave of tributes emerged afterwards.
His Friends co-stars, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and David Schwimmer, all wrote touching tributes. LeBlanc, who played the best friend of Perry's Chandler Bing, was the first to speak out, saying “the times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life”.
Though best known for his role as the witty and charming Chandler Bing on “Friends,” Perry had a well-documented battle with addiction throughout his life. His untimely death reignited discussions about substance abuse and its perils.
Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine is now frequently misused for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects. It can induce a trance-like state, making users feel detached from their surroundings and even from their own bodies. High doses can lead to severe respiratory depression, cardiovascular problems and, in extreme cases, fatal overdose. Frequent use can result in persistent psychological issues such as memory impairment, cognitive deficits and severe bladder and kidney damage.
To this day, “Friends” remains immensely popular for its focus on timeless coming-of-age themes and for capturing the zeitgeist of the late 1990s.
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