According to a recent documentary, Matthew Perry, former star of “Friends,” was administered 27 doses of ketamine in the three days leading up to his death on October 28, 2023. The film delves into the illicit network that allegedly contributed to his fatal overdose.
The documentary titled “Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy,” released on Tuesday, February 25, offers a comprehensive look at the investigation that resulted in charges against five individuals. These include two doctors, Perry’s assistant, and an alleged drug dealer referred to as the “Ketamine Queen.”
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, who spearheaded the investigation, discusses a group of medical professionals and others who purportedly exploited Perry’s substance addiction for financial gain. “In the past, we used to call these things ‘overdose deaths’ and do more blaming of the victim. We don’t do that anymore,” Estrada remarks in the documentary. The focus now is on holding drug suppliers responsible.
The autopsy revealed that Perry, who passed away at 54, died due to the “acute effects of ketamine,” and his death was ruled an accidental drowning. Perry had been candid about his addiction struggles.
The criminal charges allege a “broad underground criminal network” involved in obtaining and distributing ketamine. This network allegedly included Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Dr. Mark Chavez, Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, and go-between Erik Fleming.
Investigation revealed text messages in which Dr. Plasencia apparently viewed Perry’s addiction as a potential source of income. In his messages about Perry, he called him “this moron” who would pay inflated prices for ketamine.
Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant who lacked medical training, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He confessed to injecting Perry with ketamine multiple times a day during the actor’s last weeks. Dr. Plasencia reportedly instructed Iwamasa on how to administer the injections.
The probe discovered that Perry initially received legitimate ketamine treatments for depression from other physicians. However, when these doctors declined to provide more ketamine, Perry turned to the group of individuals now facing charges.
Sangha, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” is believed to have sold Perry over 50 vials of ketamine through Fleming, who acted as an intermediary. Investigators also tied Sangha to another ketamine overdose death in 2019, indicating a pattern of hazardous distribution.
“There needs to be accountability,” prosecutors stress in the film, noting that Perry should not have been left alone while under the influence of ketamine.
This case is part of a larger trend of authorities holding drug suppliers accountable in celebrity overdose deaths, as evidenced by similar prosecutions following the deaths of musicians Mac Miller and Prince.
Medical experts caution that ketamine, though considered safe under proper medical supervision, can be hazardous when misused. The CDC states that ketamine was detected in 0.4% of overdose deaths in the U.S. from July 2019 to June 2023, with about 82% of those deaths involving multiple substances.
The joint trial of Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, initially set to start on March 4, 2025, has been postponed to August 19, 2025. The defense attorneys were granted this delay after requesting more time to prepare, a motion U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett approved to prevent a potential miscarriage of justice.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. The postponement of the trial underscores the complexities involved in preparing a defense for such grave charges. Given Perry’s fame from “Friends” and his public battles with addiction, the trial is expected to draw substantial media attention.
The upcoming trial will center on the alleged roles of Sangha and Plasencia in the distribution of the ketamine that resulted in Perry’s fatal overdose. Both defendants have waived their rights to a speedy trial, acknowledging the need for thorough preparation.
The documentary offers a stark view of how Perry, despite his wealth and fame, became a target of manipulation by those who should have prioritized his health and safety. It also highlights the dangers of ketamine misuse, particularly in individuals with a history of substance abuse.
