Understanding the Police Investigation into Matthew Perry’s Death

IAngeles Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are investigating the source of the ketamine that led to Matthew Perry’s death, authorities said Tuesday.

Perry, a household name best known for his decade-long portrayal of Chandler Bing on comedy series Friendswas discovered unanswered in the “heated end of a swimming pool”At his home in Los Angeles on October 28.

An autopsy found the 54-year-old actor’s cause of death was the accidental result of the “acute effects of ketamine.” Drowning was cited as a secondary factor and there were no signs of fatal trauma or foul play.

Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties, has recreational and medicinal uses; It is occasionally used to treat depression and other mental health conditions.

TIME has reached out to the LAPD and DEA for comment and more information.

See more information: Matthew Perry mourned by his friends, co-stars in moving tributes

An autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Coroner determined that Perry — who openly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction — was allegedly undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment for depression. Perry was “reportedly clean for 19 months” according to PEOPLEwho obtained a copy of the autopsy report.

It also found that the level of ketamine in Perry’s blood was the same as that used during general anesthesia. The medical examiner noted that Perry’s last treatment occurred a week and a half before her death and could not account for that volume.

Perry described his struggle with addiction in his memoir Friends, lovers and the great terrible thing, which was published on November 1, 2022, almost a year before his death.

In an interview with podcast host Tom Power to promote the book, Perry said he would rather be remembered for helping others who were trying to get sober.

“The best thing about me, bar none, is that if someone comes up to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow through and do it,” he said. “When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing mentioned. I want this to be the first thing mentioned. And I will live the rest of my life proving it.”