Matthew Perry, best known for his role in the popular TV show “Friends”, tragically died after an accidental overdose caused by an out-of-control ketamine addiction. Prosecutors revealed that Perry was injecting ketamine six to eight times a day and seeking unsupervised doses of the drug despite undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety. Ketamine is a controlled substance that can carry serious medical risks, and Perry’s body had levels of ketamine equivalent to the amount used for general anesthesia at the time of his death in October 2023. Five individuals, including Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, have been charged in connection to his death.
Iwamasa, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing a death, admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry without medical training. According to court documents, Iwamasa injected Perry multiple times on the day of his death before finding him face down in the jacuzzi. Plasencia, who allegedly supplied Perry with ketamine, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Plasencia taught Iwamasa how to administer the drug through injections despite his lack of medical experience or education, leading to Perry developing a dangerous dependence on the substance.
Additional individuals involved in Perry’s death include Erik Fleming, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Perry paid Plasencia and Fleming thousands of dollars for ketamine in the month leading up to his death. Another doctor was arrested, and a third person is set to plead guilty in connection to the actor’s overdose. Perry had a bad reaction to a large dose of ketamine administered by Plasencia just days before his death, yet the doctor still left additional vials of the drug at his home.
Prior to his overdose, Perry had openly discussed his struggles with addiction and his journey to sobriety in interviews and his memoir. He had received the Champion of Recovery award from the White House, and he had converted his Malibu residence into a sober-living home to help others battling addiction. Perry emphasized that he wanted to be remembered for his work in helping people rather than just his acting career, stating that he would spend the rest of his life proving that. Despite his battle with addiction, Perry had found purpose in his recovery and sobriety, acknowledging that his past substance abuse issues could have easily led to his death.
