Shutterstock
Matthew Perry, while relaxing in his backyard jacuzzi with a view of the Santa Monica Mountains, uttered seven fateful words that would ultimately lead to his demise: “Shoot me up with a big one.”
Court documents later revealed that the “big one” referred to a dose of ketamine, a prescription anaesthetic and hallucinogen popular for its off-label uses in treating depression and anxiety. This fatal injection marked Perry’s third dose that day.
Hours after receiving the fatal dose, the “Friends” actor was discovered face down in the jacuzzi. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene, with ketamine identified as the primary cause of death by the coroner.
Details of Perry’s final day on October 28, 2023, were unveiled in court documents following a police investigation that led to charges against five individuals in connection to his death.
The documents shed light on Perry’s struggle with drug addiction, which spanned decades, and exposed Hollywood’s ketamine drug network. Experts highlighted the surge in ketamine’s popularity, leading to a thriving market with ketamine clinics and online services facilitating easy access to the drug, both legally and illicitly.
“It’s super easy [to get], – be it underground or prescription,” stated Dr. David Mahjoubi, president of the American Board of Ketamine Physicians. “I have celebrities that are getting a prescription from me. It’s super easy, not hard at all.”
An underground network
Federal authorities uncovered a “broad underground criminal network” of drug suppliers distributing large quantities of ketamine across Los Angeles in their investigation into Perry’s death.
Court documents outlined Perry’s journey from receiving ketamine treatments at a clinic for depression and anxiety under medical supervision to developing an addiction that led him to “unscrupulous doctors” and street dealers.
Despite Perry’s openness about his addiction struggles, which dated back to his time on “Friends,” he had reportedly achieved periods of sobriety. However, the transition to ketamine infusion therapy reignited his addiction due to his history with substance abuse.
The federal investigation revealed that Perry had purchased numerous vials of ketamine for thousands of dollars in the months leading up to his death. In the days preceding his demise, his assistant administered ketamine shots to him multiple times a day.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
Authorities uncovered a clandestine “drug selling emporium” during a raid on the residence of Jasveen Sangha, one of the individuals charged in Perry’s death.
Five individuals were arrested in connection to Perry’s death, with three already pleading guilty to the conspiracy. The group collectively faces 23 counts related to Perry’s demise.
Kenneth Iwamasa: Perry’s live-in personal assistant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He confessed to aiding Perry in obtaining ketamine and administering the dose that proved fatal.Dr. Salvador Plasencia: A physician accused of supplying Perry with large quantities of ketamine, administering injections in public locations, and instructing his assistant on administering the drug. He pleaded not guilty to all charges related to Perry’s death.Dr. Mark Chavez: A physician who admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia, including diverted drugs from a ketamine clinic. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.Jasveen Sangha, known as “The Ketamine Queen”: An alleged street dealer who supplied drugs to high-profile clients, including Perry. She pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death.Eric Fleming: A middleman who obtained drugs from Sangha and distributed them to Perry and his assistant. Shutterstock He admitted guilt to one charge of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one charge of distributing ketamine resulting in death. Jasveen Sangha’s social media quotes her co-accused Erik Fleming as saying that she “only deal[s] with high end and celebs.” Numerous doctors and experts interviewed by the BBC discussed the problematic relationship between celebrities and medicine. They highlighted how the VIP treatment may not always be the best treatment, as doctors can lose perspective when treating VIP clients. Some doctors shared their experiences of treating celebrities and the challenges they face in maintaining boundaries. Ketamine has become a popular party drug among celebrities, with some doctors expressing concerns about its misuse. The market for ketamine treatment has been likened to the “wild west” by some healthcare professionals. Online companies are advertising off-label ketamine prescriptions for various conditions, despite the drug not being approved for these uses. The FDA has approved ketamine for certain medical purposes, but off-label use poses risks to patients. Experts warn of the dangers of online clinics exploiting regulatory loopholes to market ketamine prescriptions. The pandemic has seen a rise in online telehealth services and clinics, leading to concerns about the overprescription of ketamine. Dr Sanacora highlighted the potential benefits of ketamine in treating depression but also warned of the associated risks. The lack of data on ketamine-related deaths makes it difficult to assess the full extent of the problem compared to other drugs like cocaine and opioids. A veces la droga ni siquiera se prueba durante las autopsias.
“Hay muchas cosas que realmente no sabemos”, dijo.
La jefa de la DEA, Anne Milgram, dijo que la agencia está apuntando a los médicos que recetan en exceso estas drogas o las recetan cuando no es necesario.
Hablando con CBS News, el socio de noticias de la BBC en Estados Unidos, comparó la cetamina y su uso en el caso de Perry con el inicio de la epidemia de opioides en Estados Unidos.
“Esto, desafortunadamente, es un arco trágico que hemos visto pensando en el inicio de la epidemia de opioides, donde muchos estadounidenses se volvieron adictos a sustancias controladas en consultorios médicos y a través de profesionales médicos que luego se convirtieron en adicción callejera también.”