7 Months After the Death of the 'Friends' Lead Actor... Still No Clarity on the Cause

"Investigating Sources of High-Dose Ketamine and Others"

It has been about seven months since the death of actor Matthew Perry, who gained worldwide fame for his role as 'Chandler' in the American sitcom 'Friends,' but the police continue to investigate the cause of his death.

Actor Matthew Perry, who passed away at his home on October 28th (local time) [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

On the 21st (local time), the Los Angeles (LA) Times and other U.S. daily newspapers reported that a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) official stated they are continuing to investigate the source of the drug ketamine that led to Perry's death. Skol Williams, head of the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division, said, "We are currently investigating how Perry came to consume such a large amount of ketamine," adding, "We are receiving assistance from agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)."

Earlier, Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his home in LA around 4 p.m. on October 28 of last year. After a 911 call was received, paramedics arrived at the scene and confirmed his death. After about a month of analysis, the LA County Coroner's Office announced in December last year that Perry's cause of death was "acute adverse reaction to ketamine." However, the coroner's office pointed out that while only trace amounts of ketamine were found in Perry's stomach, an amount nearly equivalent to that used for general anesthesia was detected in his blood.

It is known that Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety symptoms, but his last treatment was identified as about 10 days before his death. The coroner's office explained that ketamine generally disappears from the body to undetectable levels within 3 to 4 hours after administration. Therefore, they analyzed that the ketamine detected in Perry's body at the time of death may not have been officially prescribed to him. Additionally, Perry had not taken any other drugs before his death and had abstained from alcohol for 19 months up to the time of death. Furthermore, no traces of illegal drugs or related paraphernalia were found in his home.

Meanwhile, Matthew Perry gained worldwide popularity by playing 'Chandler Bing,' one of the six main characters in the popular sitcom 'Friends,' which aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004. 'Friends' is a series depicting the love and friendship among six friends living in New York. Fans were deeply shocked upon hearing the news of Perry's sudden death at the age of 54, which was followed by a global wave of mourning. Perry's family also established the Matthew Perry Foundation, a support organization for individuals with addiction disorders named after him, appealing to fans for donations and engaging in related activities.