Matthew Perry's friends were saddened before his death that he was “surrounded by supporters” (Exclusive source)

Last week's arrests in connection with Matthew Perry's fatal drug overdose have “brought back a lot of emotions” among his closest friends, a source told PEOPLE exclusively.

The Friends The 54-year-old actor was found dead face down in his hot tub on October 29, 2023. A coroner determined the actor died from “acute effects of ketamine.”

The U.S. Attorney's Office has charged five people in connection with Perry's death last Thursday, August 15: two doctors, a woman known as the “ketamine queen” who allegedly owned a “stash” and sold the illegal drugs, an alleged dealer and Perry's personal assistant, who said in his guilty plea agreement that Perry told him to “shoot him a big shot” hours before his death. The assistant later discovered Perry's lifeless body.

For those close to Perry, “the arrests brought back a lot of feelings,” the source says. “Matthew had real friends who loved and cared about him. They all would have tried to help him if he had reached out to them.”

“It saddens her that he was surrounded by supporters,” the source added.

“These defendants were more concerned with profiting from Mr. Perry than with his well-being,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said on August 15 in announcing the charges. “Drug dealers who sell dangerous substances put other people's lives at risk for greed. This case and our many other prosecutions of drug dealers who cause deaths send a clear message that we will hold drug dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”

Perry had spoken openly about his struggle with addiction and was recovering before relapsing months before his death, according to the Justice Department. After 15 previous rehab stints, he told PEOPLE in September 2022 that he had been mostly sober since 2001, “with about 60 or 70 little mishaps over the years.”

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The actor, who also appeared in films such as Fools storm in, Three to Tango And The full programwould have turned 55 on Monday, August 19th.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.