Matthew Perry’s reason for dying has been divulged. On a Friday, data was revealed verifying the demise of the veteran – most famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends – which was concluded the preceding month due to “the acute effects of ketamine,” consistent with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The death has been ruled as accidental, documented as drug and drowning related. Perry was found lifeless in his hot tub, on the date of October 28… discovered submerged by a housekeeper only a few hours after arriving home from playing pickle ball.
An exclusive look at the report confirms that drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects (a medication used to treat opioid use disorder) were also revealed as other contributing elements in his death.
Ketamine, on the other hand, is a “dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects,” following U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
It “distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control,” and “can induce a state of sedation (feeling calm and relaxed), immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia,” reports the toxicology report, as “high levels” of ketamine were found in Perry’s blood, “the main lethal effects” would be from cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression (breathing too slowly or shallowly).
Perry’s death certificate previously stated that no illicit drugs were found in the star’s system. He had a long and open history of substance abuse, but had been sober for about 19 months at the time. However, the coroner observed that “the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less.”
Perry’s long-time co-stars mourned the loss of Matthew publicly. The entire cast said, “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.”
Even after Perry’s death, his honest struggle with addiction has continued to inspire people. He shared his beautiful story of sobriety in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. “I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side again,” he narrated to People Magazine, “I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober—and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction—to write it all down. I was pretty certain that it would help people if I did.”
Perry was 54 years old when he passed away.
May he rest in peace.
