Matthew Perry's Autopsy Report
More than a month after comedic actor Matthew Perry's unexpected death, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office has released an autopsy report attributing his passing to an overdose of ketamine.
Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in his pool on Oct. 28.
What is ketamine?
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration lists ketamine as a hallucinogen. It is referred to as a "dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen" because it creates a feeling of detachment from pain and the environment.
Ketamine got its start as an anesthesia medicine for animals in the 1960s. The FDA approved it as an anesthetic for humans in 1970, according to WebMD.
Angelique Campen, an emergency room doctor of at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, explains how the drug led to the actor's death.
According to medical professionals, the combination of factors likely led to the death of the individual. Ketamine, a drug commonly used as an anesthetic in emergency departments due to its safety profile, was mentioned as a potential factor. While ketamine is generally safe when administered under medical supervision, recreational use of the drug can be "very dangerous." Known by street names like "special K" or "vitamin K," ketamine can be injected, snorted, smoked, or mixed into drinks. The drug can cause a dissociative experience or a "trip," lasting around two hours.
According to experts, it is likely that the individual slipped into a "trance state" while in the water, leading to their drowning. Ketamine, known to induce a trance-like state, can prevent individuals from waking up if they are submerged. While the drug itself does not directly stop breathing, it can have serious consequences when used inappropriately.
According to Campen, it is likely that Perry ingested an incorrect dosage of ketamine before entering the pool.
"Ketamine should only be used under the supervision of a medical professional. If Perry had those doses in his system, it would have been eliminated within 2 to 3 hours due to its short half-life. He was using it recreationally, which unfortunately led to a dangerous situation in the hot tub," said Campen.
"I believe this incident is an isolated case. We often see people abusing ketamine and other drugs that are commonly used in hospitals, but it doesn't diminish the safety of these drugs when used under medical supervision," Campen added.
