I’ve been chronicling my experience with ketamine on my blog www.findingclearwater.com, since I began treatments (in lozenge form) in January of 2023. I was just about to add a fourth installment, when Matthew Perry died suddenly and tragically at the age of 54. Upon reading that he had ketamine in his system the night he drowned, I was shocked, saddened, and scared. Scared due to the fact that ketamine has been a lifeline for me and so many others in recent times, and knowing headlines like this have the potential to make obtaining ketamine for psychological purposes more difficult, if not, impossible. Because of this, I felt it necessary to do a deep dive into what actually happened the night Matthew Perry passed away in order to gain clarity on the connection between ketamine and his death.
During my next counseling session, my therapist Aja referred me to the Journey Clinical site, which was where she obtained her information regarding how Matthew Perry died. Journey Clinical is the company that Aja uses to handle the medical side of things in reference to prescribing the ketamine after she determines whether or not her clients are a good candidate for ketamine therapy.
This is a very condensed version of what their site had to say. Essentially, there were three main factors that contributed to Mr. Perry’s passing that night: he had an opioid in his system called buprenorphine, which can cause respiratory depression, he had coronary artery disease, which can weaken the heart, and the ketamine he had in his system was at anesthetic levels. Put all three of those together and you have the perfect storm for a tragedy.
The fact that he had anesthetic levels in his system is huge because it means that he ingested enough ketamine to lose consciousness, but it also means the ketamine he took that night was not part of a medical protocol. I say this, and my therapist agreed, that no protocol would’ve allowed for someone who had a history with addiction to be sent home to do ketamine on their own- especially someone with a heart condition. Any legit protocol requires the patients’ blood pressure and heart rate to be monitored prior to and following treatment, as it can raise both temporarily.
It should be noted that Matthew Perry was getting ketamine infusion therapy, and his last treatment was about a week and a half prior to his drowning, which means the ketamine from that session would no longer have been present in his system on the night he died.
I suspect, though of course I cannot prove, that Mr. Perry likely obtained the ketamine he took that night to relax and simply feel good. Unfortunately, and especially in the case of celebrities, they’re surrounded by people who will do their bidding, and often do not have their best interests at heart; resulting in dangerous combinations of drugs, which often have fatal consequences.
Additionally, I think it’s important to focus on things like alcohol, cigarettes, vaping, and the endless list of prescription painkillers like Oxycontin when asking ourselves what the real societal dangers are. I mention this because these are substances that do not contribute to our health in any way, but our country continues to suffer the devastating effects of our addiction to them.
After decades of research, ketamine treatments have been proven to improve quality of life for people suffering with depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life distress, chronic pain, drug and alcohol problems, and more. Not only that, ketamine changes your brain by creating new neural pathways and improving its neuroplasticity. This is why it’s called medicine!
You may be thinking that’s all well and good, but what about the possibility of becoming addicted to or dependent upon, ketamine? Again, this is what medical protocols are designed for. That said, if a clinic does not have strict protocols where you are thoroughly screened to ensure you’re a proper candidate for ketamine, and have a business model of “If you have the money, we’ll provide you with ketamine” Run! No reputable institution would forgo such a critical part of the process!
In my case, I was evaluated by my therapist to determine that I was a good psychological fit for ketamine. Then I was evaluated by the NP at Journey Clinical to ensure that none of the medications or supplements I take would adversely interfere with ketamine treatment. Such screenings are essential because if for example, you’re pregnant, you would want to avoid ketamine therapy, as it may impair fetal development.
Dosage is another aspect of the protocol. The NP at Journey Clinical always knows how much ketamine I have in my possession. In fact, there was a brief time when I was going to try microdosing ketamine through an online company called Joyous. I received a one month supply (which is still in my fridge). I never used it because I decided microdosing wasn’t for me, however, when I resumed ketamine therapy through Journey Clinical, they were very much aware that I received ketamine through Joyous. According to my NP, every state has a controlled substance portal that prescribers have access to and must check when prescribing controlled substances, which is yet another way legit institutions look out for both us and themselves. Additionally, I am constantly being evaluated by my NP, and a big part of my ketamine treatments are what’s known as integration sessions. This is where you discuss and process your ketamine experience with your therapist.
Although there are many places you can go to get injections or infusions (please refer to my article Ketamine Part One regarding the importance of set and setting), I feel the therapy aspect is just as critical as the medicine itself because it helps you understand your responses to the ketamine- physically, mentally, and emotionally.
That said, and full disclosure- decades ago I had a history of hardcore drug use. I’ve experimented with cocaine, meth and crank; though meth was my drug of choice. I’m going to conclude this article by sharing some insights regarding some contrasts between drugs and ketamine, which I hope you will find useful.
Drugs numb you. Oftentimes the reason so many of us drink or pop pills is so we don’t have to feel things that we’d rather not face- but I’ve never numbed out with ketamine. Even when I was taking 700-800 mg lozenges, I still felt situational anger, joy, sadness, etc. Initially, because of this, I thought the ketamine wasn’t working. But over time I realized the importance of actually feeling our feelings- it’s what makes us human! I don’t want the inability to feel- I want the assuredness that I can handle my feelings, which ketamine has helped with greatly.
Because drugs are highly addictive, we often seek more and more to feel the way we felt when first taking them. However, ketamine is an adaptogenic, meaning it gives your body what it needs- nothing more, nothing less. I’ve found that during ketamine sessions with Aja my sweet spot is around 600 mg. Therefore, I stick to that even though I have tried the higher doses, because it just feels more aligned with my body.
There’s also a noteworthy difference between the high I felt on meth and the euphoria I feel on ketamine. Meth provided an intense, mind-altering and chaotic sensation, whereas ketamine (for me) tends to be peaceful and mind expanding.
Also, when you come down from a hardcore drug, you feel like shit! I usually felt as if I were slowly dying after a night of partying with illicit substances. However, when I’m on the tail end of a ketamine session, I sometimes experience some dizziness, but I also feel a contentment that lasts long after the more intense effects wear off. I feel like I’m healing, which is in opposition to all the damage I used to do to my body.
That said, after a year and 20 ketamine treatments under my belt, I have a resilience and a quality of life that countless street drugs and prescription drugs couldn’t come close to achieving, and yes, I’ve tried many, many antidepressants and antianxiety meds in my day.
In writing this article, it is my hope that the freedom and the opportunity for people to receive ketamine therapy will remain accessible for all who need it. I’m passionate about protecting the right for people to undergo ketamine therapy when done with care and caution.
Notably, taking ketamine in a reckless fashion not only creates an unnecessary danger, it adds to the lore that the ketamine is a danger to society, when in fact, the danger is when it’s done irresponsibly.
I believe lives can continue to be both changed and saved due to the wonders of ketamine, but we must be educated, and we must continue to use it as it’s intended- as medicine.