Matthew Perry death: Here's what you need to know about ketamine infusion clinics where 'Friends' icon sought help

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The recent revelation surrounding what caused the death of beloved 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry has put the spotlight on the growing ketamine clinic industry.

The star's death was ruled an accident, with acute ketamine toxicity along with effects of other substances found in his system, as per USA Today. 

As fans mourn, many are left wondering about the purpose of the ketamine infusion clinics that Perry supposedly visited before his sudden death on October 28. 

Rapid rise in clinics offering low-dose ketamine infusions across the US

Over the past decade, clinics offering low-dose ketamine intravenous infusions as a treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders have rapidly proliferated across the US. 

The drug, traditionally used as an anesthetic, has shown promising results in clinical trials. In 2019, an FDA-approved ketamine nasal spray called esketamine was found to ease symptoms of treatment-resistant depression.

Seeing an opportunity, specialized clinics have opened offering IV ketamine sessions for mental health. These sessions typically last a few hours, with patients awake and monitored by medical staff, and the aim is to provide relief where other medications have failed.

"If there are going to be regulations, it'll be on the boards for nursing and medicine," said Ladan Eshkevari, CEO of the Avesta Ketamine Wellness Center in Washington, DC, adding, "With the world we live in, we have to be more conscientious and ethical than ever in our practices."

Medical experts caution against ketamine usage for mental health benefits

While ketamine clinics advertise mental health benefits, medical experts caution the drug poses serious risks if misused. As an anesthetic, ketamine is intended to sedate patients and slow breathing - requiring constant monitoring.

"It’s not a normal drug to be used by a regular person," noted Dr Fahmi Farah, a cardiologist. The FDA has also warned against prescribing oral ketamine, especially via telemedicine services.

For those with a substance abuse history, ketamine also carries a high risk for misuse, and addiction specialist Dr Peter Grinspoon strictly stands against such treatments. 

Matthew Perry received a ketamine infusion shortly before drowning

In light of the growing concerns, Perry’s death has cast further doubt on the largely unregulated ketamine industry. According to reports, the 'Friends' star received a ketamine infusion shortly before drowning in his hot tub at age 54.

The LA coroner ruled his death an accident caused by "acute ketamine toxicity" along with the effects of other medications in his system. While the actor spoke openly of his decades-long battle against addiction, he was reportedly 19 months sober at the time of his death.