Fans of television, and especially those who loved the classic show Friends, may remember Matthew Perry as the quick-witted Chandler Bing. His comedic timing consistently brought laughter to millions around the world. While he made people laugh for years, he also spoke openly about his personal struggles, especially his battles with addiction. When he passed away in 2023, many people felt a wave of sadness. Almost immediately, questions arose once doctors revealed what caused his death, and the story of the so-called “Ketamine Queen” of Hollywood began to unfold.
What Happened to Matthew Perry and the Ketamine Overdose?
Matthew Perry was found in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. Initially, many details were unclear. However, doctors later discovered high levels of ketamine in his body, which raised concerns about a possible overdose related to ketamine therapy misuse. Ketamine is a medicine that doctors sometimes use during surgeries, but it can become very dangerous if people use it the wrong way or without a doctor’s care.
Because Perry had spoken honestly about facing difficult moments with drugs and alcohol for many years, people understood the impact these struggles had on his mental health. In his book, he described how hard it was to stay sober and the many times he tried to get better. For more background on Hollywood’s relationship with ketamine and Perry’s struggles, you can read this detailed BBC article: Matthew Perry death: Inside Hollywood’s ketamine obsession.
Who Is the “Ketamine Queen” Behind Matthew Perry’s Tragedy?
Soon after Perry’s passing, federal prosecutors began searching for the source of the drugs found in his system. That’s when Jasveen Sangha entered the story. People sometimes call her the “Ketamine Queen” because she sold ketamine to others and played a part in Perry’s death, according to the police.
Sangha, who is 42 years old and a citizen of both the US and Britain, agreed to a plea agreement for the distribution of ketamine. She admitted that she broke the law by giving out ketamine, which led to death or serious injury. She is not the only person connected to this crime. In fact, she is the fifth person to say in court that they were involved. According to a recent PBS report, Sangha is the final defendant to strike a plea agreement in this case (source).
How the Ketamine Queen Supplied Drugs to Matthew Perry
The story of how ketamine reached Perry is complicated and involves several people working together. For example, Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty last month. He sold ketamine in the weeks before Perry died. Another doctor, Mark Chavez, admitted that he worked with Plasencia to get ketamine. According to facts shared in court, Sangha worked with someone named Erik Fleming, who helped her. Together, they sold 51 vials of ketamine to Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. On the day Perry died, Mr. Iwamasa gave him at least three injections of this ketamine.
Here’s a table showing the people involved and what they did:
| Name | Role | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
| Jasveen Sangha | Main supplier (the “Ketamine Queen”) | Sold ketamine vials |
| Erik Fleming | Middleman | Helped sell to Perry’s assistant |
| Kenneth Iwamasa | Perry’s personal assistant | Gave Perry ketamine |
| Salvador Plasencia | Doctor | Sold ketamine |
| Mark Chavez | Doctor | Supplied ketamine |
Attempts by the Ketamine Queen to Hide the Truth
After Perry’s death made headlines, Sangha tried to hide her part in the situation. The Department of Justice reported that she told Fleming to “delete all our messages.” She knew the police would start looking into how Perry got the drugs.
During the police investigation, officers found even more illegal drugs in Sangha’s house when they searched it in March 2024. This discovery later played a role in her plea agreement with federal prosecutors. These drugs were not even connected to the Perry case, which showed she had been involved in other illegal drug activity as well.
Why Was Matthew Perry Using Ketamine Therapy?
It’s important to understand that Perry was not just using ketamine to get high. His doctors gave it to him as part of a medical treatment for depression, under careful supervision. Scientists have discovered that, for some people, ketamine can help with severe depression when other medicines have not worked.
However, this medicine is supposed to be taken only with a doctor’s help, in a clinic. If someone uses it too often, takes too much, or gets it from a dealer, it can lead to a deadly overdose. This risk becomes even higher when someone already has problems with drugs.
Matthew Perry’s Addiction Struggles and the Dangers of Ketamine Abuse
Throughout his life, Perry did not hide his addiction troubles from anyone. In fact, he talked about them so that others could learn and maybe get help too. He once shared that he went through detox dozens of times. Detox is when you try to get a drug out of your body and stop using it. This process is very tough, both mentally and physically.
Here are some things Perry faced:
- Painkillers and alcohol addiction for many years
- A burst colon in 2018 due to drug use, which required many surgeries
- More than 60 attempts to stay clean
- Writing a book to help break the silence about addiction
Perry hoped his past struggles would encourage even just one person to ask for help and make drug recovery less lonely and embarrassing.
What Is Ketamine? Understanding the Risks of Ketamine Abuse
Ketamine was first created as a medicine to help people during surgery, and doctors still use it for that today. When doctors use it the right way, it helps keep people from feeling pain. Recently, scientists found that ketamine therapy can also help treat certain kinds of depression.
However, when people use it without a doctor, it can cause big problems. For example, taking too much can stop your heart or breathing. It can also cause people to lose memory, act confused, or have scary hallucinations. People can get addicted and feel like they need more and more.
On the street, ketamine is sometimes called a “party drug” because some people use it illegally to get a high feeling or to feel separated from their surroundings, contributing to its illegal distribution. Using it like this is very risky, and it’s practices like these that contribute to the notoriety of the ‘ketamine queen’ within illegal drug circles.
People Who Have Pleaded Guilty in the Matthew Perry Ketamine Case
As the investigation into Perry’s death continued, more people admitted they had been involved. Here are the ones who accepted plea agreements and their roles:
- Mark Chavez – Planned with others to give Perry ketamine.
- Salvador Plasencia – Involved in the distribution and sale of ketamine in the last few weeks of Perry’s life.
- Erik Fleming – Worked as the go-between for selling the drug to Perry’s assistant.
- Kenneth Iwamasa – Gave Perry the drug with full knowledge of the risk.
- Jasveen Sangha – Known as the ‘ketamine queen,’ she was the main supplier, now agreeing to plead guilty.
The Role of TV Fame, Addiction, and the Ketamine Queen
Before he became famous on TV, Perry was like any other struggling actor. Fame brought more than just money and fans. It also brought a lot of pressure. For Perry, acting in Friends turned him into a superstar almost overnight. However, this didn’t make his addiction disappear. He wrote that sometimes the tough times just got worse, no matter how much fans thought he had it all.
Lessons from the Ketamine Queen Case for Young Readers
There are a few key things to remember from this story:
- Medicines, such as ketamine therapy, that can help people must be taken only with a doctor’s help.
- Drugs from the street or from friends are not safe, even if they were made to help people in the hospital.
- If you, a friend, or a family member is struggling with addiction, telling an adult and getting help is very important.
- Even successful and famous people can have addiction problems.
- Trying to hide when something bad happens usually doesn’t work; telling the truth and asking for help is always the better choice.
Understanding the Impact of the Ketamine Queen and Matthew Perry’s Story
Events like this show how dangerous it is to misuse medicines, even those that doctors sometimes prescribe. The risk to both physical and mental health, including overdose, becomes critically heightened. Perry’s story reminds us that no one is too rich, too famous, or too strong to have problems with drugs. Being careful, staying honest, and helping each other are more important than anything else.
The law is clear: Selling drugs outside of how doctors are allowed to give them is against the rules for a reason. Federal prosecutors play a key role in making sure these laws are enforced. Those who break these rules, like Sangha and others involved in Perry’s death, are held responsible so that tragedies like this don’t happen again.
Perry’s story will continue to encourage important conversations about addiction, people’s health, and the kind of help that really makes a difference. For further reading, you can explore this NBC News article: ‘Ketamine Queen’ to plead guilty in Matthew Perry’s death, officials say.
