Ketamine: What to know about the psychedelic drug found in Matthew Perry’s system
Gabrielle M. Etzel
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Matthew Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine,” a psychedelic drug, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in an autopsy report published Friday.
The Friends star, who publicly struggled with drugs and alcohol for decades, was found unresponsive in a hot tub in his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 28 at the age of 54.
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Ketamine, a potent veterinary anesthetic, is a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it is a chemical that has moderate to low potential for physical or psychological dependence, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. Coming in a powder or liquid form, ketamine is often categorized with other drugs that have hallucinogenic properties, such as LSD or ecstasy.
Ketamine and other psychedelic drugs have grown in recreational popularity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The drug has also drawn significant political and scientific attention for its positive effects in treating severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Using ketamine to treat psychiatric conditions in the United States is still considered “off-label,” meaning that although it is legal to prescribe, it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for such reasons.
In June, Business mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that he has observed that “ketamine taken occasionally is a better option” than most anti-depressants currently on the market.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has also supported decriminalizing ketamine, specifically for veterans suffering from PTSD. Ramaswamy has been criticized by conservative members of the Republican Party for his more libertarian approach to marijuana and other drugs.
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), among others, this summer worked to advance funding for ketamine experimentation for veterans struggling with PTSD through the National Defense Authorization Act.
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Perry’s autopsy report indicated that the actor had been on a ketamine infusion therapy, typically used to treat persistent depression incurable by other drugs or therapies. The ketamine found in his system, however, could not have been from his most recent therapy session approximately two weeks before he died.
The autopsy also said that the levels of ketamine found in Perry’s bloodstream would have resulted in simultaneous cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.