Matthew Perry was 'clean for 19 months' before drowning in hot tub due to 'acute effects of ketamine'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: According to an autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE from the Los Angeles County Coroner, 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry had been "reportedly clean for 19 months" before his death in October 2023.

The report stated that the 'Friends' star received his final ketamine infusion therapy treatment for depression and anxiety "one and a half weeks before" his death.

However, the coroner stated that "the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine's half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less."

Perry was found dead in his jacuzzi on October 28, 2023. He was 54 at the time of his death.

Matthew Perry's death occurred by 'unknown route of drug intake'

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner stated that the 'Friends' star died from the acute effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, after being discovered unresponsive in his hot tub on October 28.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency describes ketamine as a "dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects."

The effect "distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control," as well as "can induce a state of sedation (feeling calm and relaxed), immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia."

The coroner reported that Perry was found unresponsive "in a residential pool" and that his death was caused by an "unknown route of drug intake," as per PEOPLE.

According to the autopsy, Perry's acute drug effects were the cause of his death. His death was ruled accidental and attributed to drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medicine used to treat opioid use disorder.

The autopsy revealed that although prescription drugs and loose pills were found inside Perry's home, no drugs were "found adjacent to the pool" or "reported near the pool."

Matthew Perry was 'reportedly clean for 19 months' before his death

According to a witness questioned by detectives, Perry was "reportedly clean for 19 months" before dying at the age of 54, per his autopsy report, obtained by E! News on December 15.

The 'Whole Nine Yards' actor reportedly has a history of emphysema and diabetes. He was also receiving ketamine infusion therapy, which is used to treat depression and anxiety.

According to reports, the last session was given to him one and a half weeks before his passing.

The medical examiner explained, however, that since ketamine does not remain in the body for very long, the substance could not have entered his system through infusion therapy.

According to the autopsy, Perry's ketamine levels were within the range of anesthetic that physicians give during closely watched surgical procedures.

The report stated, "At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression."

"Drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness," it added.

The '17 Again' star has never shied away from discussing his battles with addiction.

In his memoir 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,' published in October 2022, he candidly addressed about his sobriety path and the pride he had in maintaining abstinence.

Perry told E! News in November 2022, "There's been some real up and downs in my life and this is a lot about the downs, but the further down you go, the more people you can help."

The late actor was preparing to launch a foundation to support those struggling with addiction before he tragically passed away. In the end, Perry's family carried out those intentions by naming a foundation in his honor following his death.