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Rethinking Addiction Care: Lessons from Matthew Perry's Tragic Loss

Writer's picture: emileekrupaemileekrupa

Updated: Oct 14, 2024




The loss of Matthew Perry last year and the recent arrests since his passing have sparked a big conversation about mental health and addiction treatments, especially around substances like ketamine. The most important thing to know? It is vital to ensure a safe and supportive environment for everyone. His tragic accident was not just about ketamine—it was about his medical providers not taking into consideration his extensive addiction history when treating him.


Matthew Perry was a beloved man. Long known for his ability to land a one-liner with a style that was both comedic and deeply human, he was also more recently  admired for acknowledging his own failings and vulnerabilities. For months before his death, he had been promoting his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” which chronicled, in excruciating but often darkly humorous detail, his decades long a battle with addiction and his  journey toward sobriety.


If your following the headlines, many of them demonize ketamine saying that it is a result of the “ketamine overdose” that his death occurred, but his cause of death was actually as a result of drowning not ketamine overdose. The truly tragic part of this story is that had he not entered the hot tub he may be alive today.  


Ketamine in many cases is  a game-changer for people struggling with depression, PTSD, or addiction, but only when it’s used in a safe and supported way. That means in a place that's safe, with doctors and therapists who really watch over you.  Matthew’s story is hopefully a wake-up call if you or someone you love is struggling with addiction. We need to make sure that anyone struggling is getting the proper care they need, and remembering that overdose and death is high among those that are struggling with substance use and addictions.  


Matthew Perry’s story is a harsh reminder that seeking help also means making sure the help we get is safe  and support is all around. We all deserve that, right?


Here are four red flags when considering ketamine treatment and you have an addiction history: 


  • A clinic that sends a prescription to you pharmacy or directly to your home. 

    • To prevent addiction and abuse issues we only allow in person treatments in our Draper clinic.  If ketamine is given outside of an office setting, this is a red flag. The provider does not follow the set safety standards. 

  • No therapy support offered before, during, or after ketamine treatment. 

    • At Koru we offer ketamine as part of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan.  Our therapists can help you develop a treatment plan out of the many options available that best meets your needs.

  • Clinics that don’t have medical supervision on site and don’t provide a safe comfortable environment. 

    • We always have a nurse practitioner or nurse onsite monitoring all of our patients. Your therapist can help you have a positive experience by providing a safe, warm, and comfortable environment.

  • If you have uncontrolled hypertension or cardiovascular disease: Those with unmitigated hypertension or acute cardiovascular disease may not be ideal ketamine candidates due to the drug’s known effects on blood pressure and heart rate.


Ketamine is a life-changing drug for people with addictions, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. We hope this gives you assurance that if try ketamine, you’re not headed into uncharted territory. Ensure your mental health team is experienced, capable of handling complex conditions and medications, and adheres to comprehensive safety guidelines.


If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, don’t wait for traditional treatments to fail. Explore ketamine-assisted therapy today, and take the first step towards a new life. We offer private sessions and men's and women's groups to create safe, supportive spaces tailored to the unique needs of each individual. 


Contact us to learn more about how this innovative treatment can be part of a comprehensive approach to recovery. Please call our office (385) 600-7036 to set up a consultation and learn more. 


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