Report: Matthew Perry wanted to sell the drug that killed him

Photo credit: Matthew Perry, Instagram

It has been almost a year since Friends star Matthew Perry was found unconscious in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home. His assistant immediately called 9-1-1 and reported that the actor had suffered a “cardiac incident.” Emergency responders responded quickly, but there was nothing they could do, and Perry was pronounced dead.

Two months after his death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Mr. Perry died from the “acute effects” of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties. There were also several factors that contributed to his death, including coronary artery disease, drowning and taking buprenorphine, a drug used to treat narcotic addiction.

Related: Legendary news reporter said to be behind investigation into Matthew Perry's death

Perry had been undergoing ketamine therapy, but the amount in his system suggested he obtained the ketamine illegally and took it without a doctor's permission. Then, nearly seven months after his death, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced a joint investigation into Perry's death to find out how Perry got the ketamine and who sold it to him.

Just three months after the investigation began, five people were arrested in connection with Mr. Perry's death – three doctors, the “ketamine queen” of North Hollywood, California, and the very assistant who found Perry in his hot tub.

Every day, new information seems to come to light about Perry's final days and his addiction to ketamine. Mr. Perry was very open about his years-long struggle with alcohol and painkiller addiction. Unfortunately, instead of helping him with his relapse, doctors took advantage of him. Two of the doctors responsible for his death – Dr. Erik Fleming and Dr. Salvador Plasencia – even texted each other calling Perry an “idiot” and asking how much money they could get out of him.

We now learn that Perry's addiction to ketamine was much deeper than anyone realized. In fact, he was so obsessed with the powerful drug that he actually wanted to sell it. Selling ketamine is strictly illegal and only people with a medical license can legally obtain it.

See also: Matthew Perry Update: The “Friends” actor’s tragic last words revealed

According to a report by Page SixPerry planned to start a company in Hollywood that would help people interested in ketamine therapy. Although the therapy is relatively new, it has proven to have a really positive impact on people suffering from severe trauma.

Per Page Six:

“He told me it (ketamine) was amazing, he wanted to get into business with this one guy in Glendale or somewhere in the Valley,” said a close friend who worked with Perry.

“Obviously this guy gave him as much as he wanted and you can't do that with an addict, it was horrible.”

“I think Matthew was even able to get ketamine without seeing a doctor,” the friend added.

Dr. Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez have both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Dr. Fleming also pleaded guilty to distribution of ketamine causing death. Mr. Fleming admitted to purchasing a large quantity of ketamine from the “Ketamine Queen,” also known as Jasveen Sangha. He then passed 50 vials of ketamine to Mr. Perry's assistant, half of which went to him just days before Perry's sudden and tragic death.

Dr. Chavez admitted to investigators that he sold the ketamine to Dr. Plasencia, who has not responded to any of the charges against him. Ms. Sangha has also not responded to any of the charges. If found guilty of the charges against her, she faces a life sentence in prison.

Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa also pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. Iwamasa lived with Perry and was his assistant for years. After his arrest, he admitted to injecting Perry with the ketamine. He said he frequently gave the actor multiple injections a day.

For years, Mr. Perry talked about how much ketamine had helped him. He said he used the drug frequently and felt it helped him get rid of many of his inner demons. Unfortunately, it became something he could no longer live without, and people around him took advantage of his addiction rather than helping him.

Do you think it is safe for doctors to use ketamine to treat their patients? Is it too addictive to be safe? Let us know in the comments.