(NewsNation) — Authorities have made arrests in connection with the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, who was found face down in a hot tub at his California home.
Perry was found with ketamine in his system, which the actor had been using to treat his depression.
Earlier in the year, Los Angeles police said they were working with federal authorities to determine the source of the drug, which was not legally prescribed.
According to TMZ, the arrests include at least one doctor and several dealers who helped get the drug to Perry. Sources told the outlet that text messages showed Perry discussing how much of the drug he wanted and what he would pay for it.
How did Matthew Perry die?
Perry, 54, was found face down in his hot tub on Oct. 28, 2023.
An autopsy blamed his death on an overdose of ketamine. According to the findings, the overdose caused Perry to lose consciousness and drown.
Perry had been undergoing supervised treatment with ketamine for his depression. However, his last session had been more than a week before his death, so the ketamine in his system could not have been from that.
The medical examiner said the amount of ketamine in Perry’s system was equivalent to the amount used as anesthesia in general surgery. His death was ruled an accident.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a general anesthetic that also has psychedelic properties. Recently, it has been investigated as a treatment for depression and bipolar disorder, especially among those who do not respond to other medications.
Ketamine, like other psychedelics, is believed to work by increasing plasticity in the brain, helping people make new connections and essentially rewire parts of their brain to reduce depression.
While centers have cropped up around the country offering IV ketamine as a treatment, it is not FDA-approved for treating depression. Ketamine treatment comes with risks, including the potential for addiction and overdose.
Matthew Perry’s history and legacy
Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the hit show “Friends,” was open about his history of opioid and alcohol addiction as well as his experiences with depression. He was an advocate for increasing treatment for addiction as an alternative to incarceration.
At the time of his death, Perry had reportedly been sober for 19 months, according to the autopsy report.
Following Perry’s death, his “Friends” co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer said they were devastated by his death.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” they said in a statement.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
