Matthew Perry's cause of death revealed

[Ali Gator]

On Friday, Matthew Perry’s cause of death was determined and an autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE revealed that the beloved  Friends star died due to acute effects of ketamine. Drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects were also listed as contributing factors in his death.

According to the autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Coroner, the Friends alum was "reportedly clean for 19 months" before his death, which was ruled accidental.

The actor was practicing ketamine infusion therapy and his last treatment took place just "one and a half weeks before" his death, the report stated. However, the coroner noted 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."

Buprenorphine is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Ketamine is a "dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects," per the 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."

Ketamine was approved as a short-acting anesthetic by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1970s. And in 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine, as a medication for depression.

However, the drug is also illegally taken to get high, as it can put people into a relaxed or detached state.

Over the years, many stars have opened up about using ketamine to specifically treat addiction in the past — including Lamar Odom, who said he saw it as a "healthy high" in helping him with substance abuse issues. Sharon Osbourne has spoken about pursuing ketamine treatment after developing anxiety in 2021. 

More recently, Teen Mom star Tyler Baltierra told PEOPLE he started ketamine therapy to unlock repressed memories and help him work through childhood trauma, and Dynasty star Catherine Oxenberg also spoke with PEOPLE about her experience using ketamine therapy to overcome trauma after rescuing her daughter India from the NXIVM cult.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ketamine therapy is a treatment that uses low doses of the drug in order to manage various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The American Psychiatric Association does not provide specific guidelines for the use of ketamine. But a 2019 study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital found that patients with anxiety experienced lessened symptoms just 40 minutes after taking a low dose of ketamine.

Ketamine can come in different forms, including nasal spray, IV therapy, injections, and lozenges. Side effects of using the medication include nausea, dizziness headaches, dissociation, vertigo, drowsiness, psychosis and more.

In the past year, ketamine therapy clinics have been appearing throughout the U.S. At most clinics, patients start with a screening, and, if qualified, they get a shot of ketamine and are led through a guided meditation. Afterward they meet with a therapist. Treatments can run from $400 to $800 a session, on average, and aren't covered by insurance.

Although ketamine has gained popularity, it is only safe when prescribed by a doctor for a specific purpose.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Matthew Perry Died from 'Acute Effects' of Ketamine — What to Know About the Hallucinogen

PEOPLE.COM

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'Friends' star Matthew Perry died Oct. 28 at the age of 54 due to acute effects of ketamine. Here’s what to know about the drug, its side effects and why it’s...

 

[+ augustus]

The drug situation in this country is utterly horrendous!

[Marc in Calif]

2 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Thanks for this very "compelling" ad -- much appreciated! 

Are you aware that you can edit/delete text that you've pasted from elsewhere? 🤡

[BSR]

4 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

On Friday, Matthew Perry’s cause of death was determined and an autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE revealed that the beloved  Friends star died due to acute effects of ketamine. Drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects were also listed as contributing factors in his death.

According to the autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Coroner, the Friends alum was "reportedly clean for 19 months" before his death, which was ruled accidental.

The actor was practicing ketamine infusion therapy and his last treatment took place just "one and a half weeks before" his death, the report stated. However, the coroner noted 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."

Buprenorphine is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Ketamine is a "dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects," per the 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."

Ketamine was approved as a short-acting anesthetic by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1970s. And in 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine, as a medication for depression.

However, the drug is also illegally taken to get high, as it can put people into a relaxed or detached state.

Over the years, many stars have opened up about using ketamine to specifically treat addiction in the past — including Lamar Odom, who said he saw it as a "healthy high" in helping him with substance abuse issues. Sharon Osbourne has spoken about pursuing ketamine treatment after developing anxiety in 2021. 

More recently, Teen Mom star Tyler Baltierra told PEOPLE he started ketamine therapy to unlock repressed memories and help him work through childhood trauma, and Dynasty star Catherine Oxenberg also spoke with PEOPLE about her experience using ketamine therapy to overcome trauma after rescuing her daughter India from the NXIVM cult.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ketamine therapy is a treatment that uses low doses of the drug in order to manage various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The American Psychiatric Association does not provide specific guidelines for the use of ketamine. But a 2019 study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital found that patients with anxiety experienced lessened symptoms just 40 minutes after taking a low dose of ketamine.

Ketamine can come in different forms, including nasal spray, IV therapy, injections, and lozenges. Side effects of using the medication include nausea, dizziness headaches, dissociation, vertigo, drowsiness, psychosis and more.

In the past year, ketamine therapy clinics have been appearing throughout the U.S. At most clinics, patients start with a screening, and, if qualified, they get a shot of ketamine and are led through a guided meditation. Afterward they meet with a therapist. Treatments can run from $400 to $800 a session, on average, and aren't covered by insurance.

Although ketamine has gained popularity, it is only safe when prescribed by a doctor for a specific purpose.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Matthew Perry Died from 'Acute Effects' of Ketamine — What to Know About the Hallucinogen

PEOPLE.COM

---

'Friends' star Matthew Perry died Oct. 28 at the age of 54 due to acute effects of ketamine. Here’s what to know about the drug, its side effects and why it’s...

 

Thanks for the news about Matthew Perry's cause of death.  Since I don't keep up much with pop culture news, I probably would have missed it otherwise.

I started watching Friends only because my best friend at work was into it.  I usually stay away from comedies because something about most sitcoms doesn't click with me.  But I'm glad I succumbed to "peer pressure" and got into the series because it gave me a lotta belly laughs.

While we don't know the details of his will, those close to Perry say that he left a good amount to his foundation to help those with addictions.  I hope that is indeed the case since he was genuinely so devoted to the cause during his life.

[BSR]

1 hour ago, Marc in Calif said:

Thanks for this very "compelling" ad -- much appreciated! 

Are you aware that you can edit/delete text that you've pasted from elsewhere? 🤡

Are you aware you can write posts without so much nasty sarcasm? 🤡 

[Marc in Calif]

7 minutes ago, BSR said:

Are you aware you can write posts without so much nasty sarcasm? 🤡 

It wasn't sarcasm, sweetie!  

[BSR]

15 minutes ago, Marc in Calif said:

It wasn't sarcasm, sweetie!  

Perhaps not your intention, but like so many of your posts, that's how it reads ... just a little constructive criticism.

[Marc in Calif]

6 minutes ago, BSR said:

Perhaps not your intention, but like so many of your posts, that's how it reads ... just a little constructive criticism.

I see that you didn't get my response at all. ☺️

[pubic_assistance]

Special K

Makes all your cares go away and sometimes you leave with them.

Rest in Peace.

The poor fellow struggled with his demons for decades.

[mike carey]

2 hours ago, Marc in Calif said:

It wasn't sarcasm, sweetie!  

It absolutely wasn't sarcasm, it was pure unadulterated snark. (And of course, for those who might have been unaware, it included the advice that quoted versions of posts can be edited.)

[Ali Gator]

12 hours ago, Marc in Calif said:

Thanks for this very "compelling" ad -- much appreciated! 

Are you aware that you can edit/delete text that you've pasted from elsewhere? 🤡

My apologies - I forgot your comprehension skills are limited to the content size of a text message. Thanks for reminding us ! 

[Ali Gator]

10 hours ago, BSR said:

While we don't know the details of his will, those close to Perry say that he left a good amount to his foundation to help those with addictions.  I hope that is indeed the case since he was genuinely so devoted to the cause during his life.

And in his memoir from a year ago, he made it clear that when 'his time comes', he wanted to be remembered for his foundation and the help he had given fellow addicts over the years - not for being a TV star on 'Friends'.  Sure enough, every obit on him focused on his role on 'Friends' and gave a 'mention' of his foundation towards the end. Just what he didn't want. 

[Cooper]

Administrator’s Message

Gentlemen, Please! Let’s stay on topic. 

[+ JEC]

So sad, another life lost to this horrible disease.   That's what it is....a disease, every bit as much as diabetes or cancer.  RIP Matthew Perry.

[+ purplekow]

Ketamine also known as the Club Drug Special K was very popular in the early 2000s.  Since I have not stepped into a club since then, unless you count nude parties and strip joints as clubs, I have no idea if it is still popular.