Matthew Perry described his experience with ketamine in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” a year before his death. The actor underwent ketamine therapy to help treat his depression and likened the drug to feeling like being hit in the head with a giant happy shovel. He shared that the treatment involved him being put in a room, blindfolded, listening to music through headphones, and receiving an IV with ketamine.
Perry expressed that he became a fan of ketamine as he grew more accustomed to its hallucinogenic effects. He mentioned that he would often disassociate and see things during the therapy sessions. The actor found the experience to be liberating and wrote, “As the music played and the K ran through me, it all became about the ego, and the death of the ego.” He revealed that the therapy sessions would also include a combination of Ativan and ketamine.
Tragically, Perry’s death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine use, leading to his drowning on October 28, 2023. It was disclosed that his longtime assistant, Kenneth “Kenny” Iwamasa, administered the fatal dose of ketamine that caused his death. Iwamasa admitted to administering multiple injections of ketamine without medical training on the day of Perry’s death, ultimately leading to his passing.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and faces 15 years in prison. Perry had reportedly been struggling with addiction prior to his death, despite previous claims of being sober for years. The US Attorney charged five individuals, including two doctors, with Perry’s death after uncovering an illicit drug trade in Hollywood. Perry’s tragic death shed light on the dangers of using ketamine without proper medical supervision.
The revelations surrounding Matthew Perry’s death highlight the consequences of the misuse and improper administration of ketamine. Perry’s openness about his struggles with depression and his use of ketamine therapy serves as a cautionary tale. The actor’s untimely passing underscores the importance of seeking professional help and following medical protocols when using medications for mental health treatment. Perry’s legacy and the circumstances of his death have spurred conversations about addiction, mental health, and the responsibility of those providing medical care.
