The death of Matthew Perry was, for many fans, one of the most shocking celebrity deaths of 2023. The beloved Friends star was only 54 years old when he was found dead in his Los Angeles home on October 28. In the weeks since his death, there have been many questions about the circumstances that led to his body being discovered in a hot tub. These questions included speculation as to whether his past struggles with addiction could have played a role.
Although an autopsy was performed the day after his death, the results were just released by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner and confirm that, sadly, a drug did play a role in Matthew's death. The medical examiner's report, released on December 15, revealed that Matthew had significant amounts of the sedative ketamine in his system at the time of his death, though that drug wasn't the only contributing factor.
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According to the autopsy, his death was accidental.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner's report, "the cause of death for 54-year-old actor Matthew Langford Perry as the acute effects of ketamine. Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder). The manner of death is accident."
Ketamine, which can be used as a sedative in medical procedures, is known to cause dissociative feelings and can hallucinogenic effects. These affects are also why the drug is sometimes used recreationally or as a "date rape" drug that can result in a "victim who may be aware of what is happening, but unable to move or fight back. Ketamine may also cause amnesia so that the victim does not remember the events that occurred," according to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Ketamine also can be used as a treatment for depression and other mental health conditions.
According to some reports, Matthew may have undergoing experimental ketamine infusion treatment to treat depression and anxiety. The medical examiner's report, however, indicated that the ketamine found in his system the day of his death was not from his last treatment (which had been over a week before) and was at much higher levels than would be expected from the treatment.
Matthew drowned due to the effects of the ketamine.
Although the autopsy report doesn't indicate how the ketamine got into Matthew's system, it does note that the drug at the levels found in his body would have caused him to go unconscious while in the pool, leading to his drowning.
Matthew, who had been open in recent years about his struggles with addiction, had recently quit smoking and seemed to be trying to take better care of his health, including playing pickleball on the morning of his tragic accidental death.
