The investigation into the sudden death of one of the stars of the popular series “Friends,” Matthew Perry, has been pointed to a very dangerous drug: ketamine, in a massive indictment involving five persons including the Ketamine Queen Jasveen Sangha.
Those charged include two doctors and a street dealer, who stand accused of their various roles in Perry’s fatal overdose last October.
What Exactly is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a heavy anesthetic, normally approved by U.S. health regulators for use in surgeries.
The drug, administrated either by intramuscular injection or IV, is structurally related to PCP, a notorious recreational drug.
Though useful in medical environments, ketamine also has gained quite a reputation for its recreational uses, which have euphoric effects and hallucinations, but serious dangers to breathing and heart function.
How Was Matthew Perry Involved with Ketamine?
Ketamine has received tremendous attention in recent years as a medication prescribed off-label for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.
Indeed, although the US FDA has not approved the drug for these indications, doctors prescribe it to some patients for potential benefits for mental health treatments.
In the case of Matthew Perry, he was receiving infusion therapy to help him with his depression.
However, prosecutors said that when Perry’s doctors stopped prescribing him the drug, he turned to other, illegal sources.
The indictment alleges that Perry was linked to the ring, which included two doctors, his assistant, and the so-called “Ketamine Queen.” It was Perry’s assistant who allegedly administered the fatal dose on the day of his death, according to authorities, which adds charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
“We’re not talking about legitimate ketamine treatment,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said. “We’re talking about two doctors who abused the trust they had, abused their licenses to put another person’s life at risk.”
The Larger Issues Involved with Ketamine Use
Beyond Perry’s case, the administration of ketamine has been a very hot issue of controversy, especially in law enforcement.
The drug has been used by some paramedics to sedate patients, particularly those out-of-control situations.
This trend has been under close scrutiny since 2019, when Elijah McClain died in Colorado after paramedics were found with a guilty case of administering a lethal overdose of ketamine to him.
An Associated Press investigation found that, over the last 15 years, law enforcement and paramedics in the United States have quietly been using a sedative like ketamine to subdue people—many times with backing from questionable science and police-friendly experts—a practice rife with serious red flags for safety and ethics.
