Matthew Perry Once Expressed Feeling Like He Was Nearing Death Due to Ketamine Use

The world was stunned by the untimely death of Matthew Perry, the actor famed for his role as Chandler Bing on “Friends.” He tragically passed away after drowning in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles residence on October 28. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office revealed on Saturday, December 16, that Perry’s death was due to the acute effects of ketamine.

Perry had been open about his long-term battles with addiction and drugs. He was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat his depression and anxiety. The medical examiner’s statement cited additional contributing factors to his death, including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used for opioid use disorder. The death was ruled accidental.

Despite his struggles with drug addiction, including ketamine, Perry had achieved sobriety for 19 months before his death. In his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir,” he had discussed his experience with ketamine infusion therapy, describing feelings akin to dying during the sessions.

Perry’s book detailed his ketamine use, which he tried at a Swiss rehab clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. He described ketamine, popular as a street drug in the 1980s, as now being used synthetically for pain relief and depression treatment. Perry likened the drug’s effect to a ‘giant exhale,’ feeling as though it was tailor-made for him.

He vividly recalled feeling close to death during the hour-long therapy sessions, continually opting for them despite the severe hangovers they caused because they offered a different experience. Ultimately, Perry decided that ketamine was not suitable for him, as the aftereffects outweighed the benefits.

According to the Associated Press, Perry’s last ketamine therapy session was about a week and a half before his death. On October 28, his assistant found him unresponsive in a hot tub at his home around 4 pm. There were no indications of foul play or drug presence at the scene.