Investigators hunt for source of Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose

Los Angeles police have opened a new investigation into the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry.

The 54-year-old actor died in October 2023 from the “acute effects of ketamine,” with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), alongside the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, is now looking into how Perry obtained the fatal supply of ketamine.

Perry was found unresponsive in his pool on October 28, 2023, and was later pronounced dead at the scene. His assistant discovered him after returning from errands, having last seen him alive shortly after Perry returned home from playing pickleball.

The autopsy report, released in December, revealed high levels of ketamine in his system, similar to those used in general anesthesia.

Perry had been undergoing medically supervised ketamine treatments for depression and anxiety, but his last prescribed treatment was a week and a half before his death. The autopsy report indicated that the ketamine found in his system at the time of his death was not from his prescribed treatments, as the drug’s half-life is only 3 to 4 hours.

The LAPD has confirmed that the investigation will focus on identifying the source of the ketamine. A police spokesperson stated that detectives from the robbery-homicide division are leading the inquiry. The DEA has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, referring all inquiries to the LAPD.

Throughout his career, Perry was open about his struggles with addiction. He battled with alcohol and drug abuse during his years on “Friends” and had multiple stints in rehabilitation clinics. Despite these challenges, Perry had been sober for 19 months before his death.

In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry detailed his journey through addiction and his efforts to help others facing similar struggles. “The best thing about me, bar none, is if someone comes up to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say, ‘yes,’ and follow up and do it. That’s the best thing,” he once stated.