Update: Lessons from Matthew Perry’s Life and Death
By: Cindy Perlin, LCSW Note: On August 15, 2024, five people were arrested in connection with Matthew Perry's death. This article has been updated to include related information. Actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler in the long-running TV series Friends, died on October 28, 2023 in his hot tub at his home in California. His autopsy toxicology results, released on December 15, concluded that he died of an accidental ketamine overdose. Perry was 54 years old at the time of his death and had a long history of substance abuse, starting with alcohol abuse at a young age. This tragic and untimely death of this beloved and talented man who seemingly had everything: money, fame, adoration of fans, loving friends and family, has something to teach us about the risks and nature of addiction and the need for alternative treatments. Perry clearly laid out the picture for us in his book, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir , publ...