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Matthew Perry climbed into his backyard jacuzzi with a view of the Santa Monica Mountains and uttered seven words that would ultimately lead to his death: “Shoot me up with a big one.”
Court documents later revealed that the “big one” was a dose of ketamine, a prescription anaesthetic and hallucinogen that has gained popularity for its off-label uses in treating depression and anxiety. This fatal injection was Perry’s third of the day.
Hours after receiving the fatal dose, the actor was found face down in the jacuzzi. Medics declared him dead at the scene, with ketamine identified as the primary cause of death by the coroner.
Details of Perry’s final day alive on October 28, 2023, were revealed in court documents following a police investigation that led to five individuals being charged in connection to his death.
The documents shed light on Perry’s long-standing struggle with drug addiction and provide insight into Hollywood’s ketamine drug network. The rise in ketamine’s popularity in recent years has led to a booming market, with the proliferation of ketamine clinics and online services making the drug easily accessible, both legally and illicitly.
According to Dr. David Mahjoubi, president of the American Board of Ketamine Physicians, obtaining ketamine is “super easy,” whether through prescription or the underground market. Even celebrities are able to get prescriptions with minimal effort.
An underground network
Federal authorities uncovered a “broad underground criminal network” of drug suppliers distributing large amounts of ketamine across Los Angeles during their investigation into Perry’s death.
Court documents detailed Perry’s transition from receiving ketamine treatment at a clinic to developing an addiction that led him to dubious doctors and street dealers.
Although Perry had been candid about his addiction struggles, even during his time on “Friends,” he had claimed to be sober in his memoir. However, he eventually turned to ketamine infusion therapy, which experts say exacerbated his addiction.
The federal investigation revealed that in the months leading up to his death, Perry had purchased numerous vials of ketamine for thousands of dollars.
In the days before his death, his assistant had injected him with ketamine multiple times a day.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
Authorities discovered an underground “drug selling emporium” while raiding the home of Jasveen Sangha, one of the individuals charged in Perry’s death.
Five people were arrested in the investigation, three of whom pleaded guilty to various charges related to Perry’s death. The group faces a total of 23 counts.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in personal assistant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He confessed to assisting Perry in obtaining ketamine and administering the fatal dose.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a physician accused of supplying Perry with ketamine, pleaded not guilty to all charges. He allegedly injected Perry in public locations and taught his assistant how to administer the drug.
Dr. Mark Chavez, another physician, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia, including drugs diverted from a ketamine clinic.
Jasveen Sangha, described as the “Ketamine Queen,” is accused of supplying the ketamine that led to Perry’s death. She pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death.
Eric Fleming, a middleman, allegedly obtained drugs from Sangha and distributed them to Perry and his assistant.
Shutterstock: He admitted guilt to one charge of conspiring to distribute ketamine and one charge of distributing ketamine resulting in death. Jasveen Sangha’s social media indicates she “only deals with high-end and celebs,” according to her co-accused Erik Fleming.
‘Yes men’: Various doctors and experts interviewed by the BBC discussed the detrimental relationship between celebrities and medicine. Dr. Gerard Sanacora from Yale University cautioned against the preferential treatment given to VIP clients, emphasizing that doctors can lose perspective when dealing with celebrities. Dr. Mahjoubi, who runs ketamine clinics in California, also highlighted the challenges of maintaining boundaries with celebrity patients.
A doctor interviewed by the BBC compared the market for ketamine treatment to the “wild west,” noting the rise in ketamine addiction in the entertainment industry. The doctor expressed concerns about the blurred lines between doctors and celebrities, with some physicians going to extreme lengths to cater to celebrity patients.
The start of a new prescription epidemic?: Online companies advertising ketamine for off-label uses have exploited regulatory loopholes, offering subscriptions for the drug to treat conditions not approved by the FDA. The FDA has only approved ketamine for specific medical uses, such as general anesthesia and depression treatment under strict supervision. The rise of online clinics during the pandemic has led to concerns about the misuse of ketamine for profit rather than patient care.
Despite ongoing research into the efficacy of ketamine for depression treatment, experts warn about the risks associated with the drug, including seizures and death. The lack of comprehensive data on ketamine-related deaths raises concerns about the potential dangers of its widespread use. 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 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 EE.UU., comparó la ketamina y su uso en el caso de Perry con el inicio de la epidemia de opioides en EE.UU.
“Desafortunadamente, esta es una trágica historia que hemos visto retrocediendo al comienzo de la epidemia de opioides, donde muchos estadounidenses se volvieron adictos a sustancias controladas en consultorios médicos y a través de médicos que luego se convirtieron en adicción callejera también.”