‘Acute Effects’: Medical Examiner Reveals Matthew Perry’s Cause Of Death

When “Friends” actor Matthew Perry died in October, news reports indicated that he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home.

On Friday, a medical examiner’s report confirmed a cause of death, and it involved a potent drug that the 54-year-old, who had a long history of addiction, had in his system.

According to The Hill:

The medical examiner’s report said that “high levels of ketamine” were found in Perry’s “postmortem blood specimens,” adding that “the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.”

The “exact method of intake” in Perry’s case is unknown.

“There were trace amounts of ketamine detected in the stomach contents,” the report stated. “He was reported to be receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety.”

Per the report, Perry’s last known treatment was one-and-a-half weeks prior to his death and the ketamine that was in his system when he died “could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is three to four hours, or less.”

The report also found that contributory factors in the actor’s death included “drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects.”

Reactions soon started pouring in on social media:

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner says Matthew Perry died due to “the acute effects of ketamine.”

There was no alcohol, cocaine, heroin, PCP, methamphetamine, or fentanyl in his system.

No illegal drugs were found in his home.

Interviews with people in his life… pic.twitter.com/GvHVK49CXr

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 15, 2023

Not really my "lane," but hopefully this will serve as a wakeup call to those who treat ketamine like a relatively safe and fun party drug. It isn't safe, you can get addicted, and you can OD. pic.twitter.com/kPFH39w7hB

— Rob Freund (@RobertFreundLaw) December 15, 2023

Ketamine is a serious drug. I’m sorry, but you aren’t “clean” taking tranquilizers.

If you’re depressed workout. If you can’t workout use a sauna.

— Jason Morgan (@Jasonmorgan35) December 15, 2023

Yep, drugs (ketamine, in this case) ate Matthew Perry.

And no, if you are on ketamine infusion “therapy,” you are not clean.

Ugh

RIP pic.twitter.com/sN0Guuqmln

— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) December 15, 2023

Amid speculation about a relapse shortly after his death, at least some of Perry’s friends believed he had been clean and sober. That included Athenna Crosby, who had been seen with him the day before he died.

As the New York Post reported:

Crosby, who is Venezuelan, told TMZ that she met Perry through mutual friends, and that their lunch date right before his death was not romantic.

She further told Fox News Digital, “I happen to be the last person to be seen with him. But we were not really involved like that.”

“In the interaction that I had with him, he was extremely positive, sober, acting normal, spoke very well, did not give me any impression that he was under [the influence of] drugs or alcohol of any kind,” she told the outlet.

“So, I think people are speculating that this was a relapse situation. I just want to defend him and say that it was not.”

Here’s some of the latest reporting on the story: