At Least One Person Arrested in Connection with Actor’s Tragic Passing
In a significant development, several media outlets have reported that at least one individual has been arrested in connection with the death of beloved “Friends” star, Matthew Perry. The 54-year-old actor was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles residence in October of the previous year.
Cause of death: Acute effects of ketamine
A post-mortem examination revealed that Perry’s death was caused by “the acute effects of ketamine,” a controlled substance that the actor, who was a recovering addict, was using as part of a supervised therapy program. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) initiated an investigation in May to ascertain how Perry had such a significant amount of the drug in his system.
According to reports from ABC News and TMZ, multiple individuals have been apprehended and are now facing federal charges. Other media outlets, including NBC News, have confirmed that at least one arrest has been made.
Press conference to provide more details
Law enforcement officials have announced that they will hold a press conference later on Thursday to provide additional details about the arrests and the ongoing investigation.
Ketamine: A double-edged sword
Ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, is increasingly used as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Individuals close to Perry informed the coroner’s office that the actor had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy. However, Perry’s last session reportedly took place more than a week before his untimely death. The medical examiner stated that the ketamine found in Perry’s system could not have been from the infusion therapy due to the drug’s short half-life.
The medical examiner’s report indicated that the levels of ketamine in Perry’s body were comparable to those administered during general anesthesia. This raised questions about how Perry, who had not had a supervised infusion session for several days, obtained the drug, leading to the legal investigation.
Additional factors in Perry’s death
Drowning was also listed as a contributing factor in Perry’s death, which was ultimately ruled an accident. Other contributing factors included coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder.
A star’s struggle with addiction
At the height of his career, Perry grappled with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, frequently attending rehabilitation clinics. He candidly detailed his struggles in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, Perry admitted that he could not remember three years of filming “Friends” due to his substance use.
Despite his battles, Perry wrote in his memoir that he had been mostly sober since 2001, “save for about 60 or 70 mishaps.”
As the investigation unfolds, the world mourns the loss of a beloved actor who brought joy to millions, even as he faced his own personal demons.