An arrest has been made in California on Thursday in connection to the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, according to US media outlets.
Perry, 54, was found face down in the pool at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. He died from the acute effects of ketamine and said the “manner of death is accident”, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
Los Angeles police said in May that it was working with federal authorities to find the source of the ketamine Perry had consumed.
Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression, but the last therapy was a week and a half before his death.
The Friends star was open about his battle with substance abuse and addiction and had set up a sober living facility for men with similar issues.
A post-mortem examination concluded that “drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine” – which is described as an “opioid-like drug used in the treatment of opioid addiction as well as acute and chronic pain” – were contributing factors to Perry’s death.
The report said Perry was receiving “ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety”, with his last known treatment one and a half weeks before his death, and suggested he had been “reportedly clean for 19 months” from drug use.
“The ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy,” the ruling said.
The report was not able to specify the “exact method of intake” in Perry’s case.
A study in April 2023 suggested ketamine is almost as effective as a treatment for depression as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Scientists in India compared the efficacy of the dissociative drug with ECT, which is routinely used in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses.
Researchers analysed data from five randomised clinical trials that included 278 participants.
Read More
They concluded that, while ECT was "superior to ketamine for improving depressive symptoms", the advantage was "small".
"For many patients, especially those who want to be protected against cognitive risks, a trial of ketamine may be worth considering before a trial of ECT."
Ketamine, commonly used as a club drug, is a Class B substance and possession in the UK carries a five-year prison sentence.
This is a breaking news story. More follows
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
