What is ketamine, the drug involved in Matthew Perry's death?

The investigation into the death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry has led to a sweeping indictment that includes five people who prosecutors say were involved in his ketamine overdose in October, including two doctors and a salesman. A street that provided Perry with copious amounts of this powerful anesthetic. Here's what you need to know about ketamine.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a strong anesthetic approved by US health regulatory agencies for use in surgery. This drug can be administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection. This drug is a chemical counterpart of the recreational drug PCP. Ketamine itself has been used recreationally due to its euphoric effects. It can cause hallucinations and affect breathing and heart.

How did Matthew Perry use ketamine?

Ketamine has grown in popularity in recent years as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain. Although the drug is not approved for this condition, doctors can prescribe the drug for off-label conditions. As for Perry, he used it to treat depression. He was treated with injectable ketamine by his doctors, but prosecutors said the actor turned to other sources when his doctors refused to give him a higher dose. Prosecutors said Thursday that Perry illegally obtained ketamine through a network involving a doctor couple, an assistant and a woman they called the "ketamine queen." Perry's assistant, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death, injected the actor with ketamine — including several times on the day he died. "We're not talking about the legal treatment of ketamine," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said when the charges were announced. "We are talking about two doctors who abused their trust and their license to put another person's life at risk."

How is ketamine used?

Ketamine has also been used as a sedative by emergency technicians, often alongside police when they believe people are out of control. Some states and agencies are beginning to reconsider the practice because of its risks. The 2019 death of young black man Elijah McClain in Colorado prompted an investigation into the practice and the conviction of two emergency room technicians for giving McClain an overdose of ketamine. Overall, the use of ketamine and other sedatives for people arrested by the police has slowly spread across the country over the past 15 years, based on questionable science backed by police-aligned experts, according to research by the news agency. The Associated Press is done. The Associated Press Health and Science Section receives financial support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Education Media Group. AP is fully responsible for all content.

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