KETAMINE ABUSE
Abstract
In October 2023, “Friends” actor Matthew Perry was found dead in his home after receiving a dose of ketamine, a substance he had been abusing after receiving it from several different sources (asamonitor.pub/40tSzqR). Perry had a long history of substance abuse issues and was seemingly manipulated and enabled by those who had continued to provide him with ketamine despite prior instances in which he had suffered adverse effects from its use. Ketamine has been prescribed for such conditions as depression and anxiety but has also been abused recreationally. Though he initially sought the drug through legitimate means, when doctors at a local clinic refused to increase his dosage, the actor asked his assistant to procure it via illegal means.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, an internist, was later charged with providing Perry with ketamine by producing a fraudulent prescription, and he had even mused with a colleague regarding the amount of money he stood to make by providing the celebrity with the drug. The actor and his assistant sought additional sources for ketamine, and he was receiving multiple injections a day prior to his death. The autopsy report for Perry indicated that he died of “acute effects” of ketamine.
Why it matters
Ketamine has long been used as an anesthetic and has been utilized safely and effectively for perioperative care. In recent years, awareness of its use as an illicit substance has grown, but it has also emerged as an alternative treatment for chronic pain and psychological diseases. In the past, anesthetic drugs have crossed into the mainstream consciousness when they have been involved in the death of celebrities. For example, the death of popstar Michael Jackson brought new scrutiny to the use of propofol, when it was discovered that it had been abused by the singer leading to his death. This led to calls to classify propofol as a controlled substance. Recently, many institutions have sought to treat propofol as a controlled substance, requiring careful documentation and recording of its waste in a similar manner to opiates, though its designation on the regulatory front has stayed largely the same.
It remains to be seen if ketamine will bring similar scrutiny, or if additional regulations may be created to ensure its proper use and distribution as a medication for treatment outside the controlled environment of perioperative services. Nonetheless, regardless of any regulatory changes, patients may also experience more fear or trepidation regarding the treatment of diseases by ketamine, given its role in the death of a beloved Hollywood actor.