Doctor Reveals Ketamine Risks In Wake Of Matthew Perry's Death
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on September 3, 2024 at 12:15 PM EDT
Dr. Colin Banas is weighing in on the growing concerns about prescribing Ketamine for depression, especially in light of recent events surrounding Matthew Perry's death.
The "Friends" actor, who openly shared his battle with depression, has sparked renewed debate about the use of Ketamine, with many questioning its risks and benefits.
As the conversation surrounding Matthew Perry's tragic death continues, Dr. Colin Banas, Chief Medical Officer at DrFirst, spoke with The Blast to talk about the rise in Ketamine prescriptions and the risks that come with the drug.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a specialized anesthetic medication, also recognized as a psychedelic drug, that is used in Ketamine therapy. This treatment is popular among many celebrities for managing mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Many celebrities, such as Elon Musk, Sharon Osbourne, and Lamar Odom, have turned to ketamine therapy to address mental health issues and struggles with addiction.
Ketamine Prescriptions Have Tripled Over The Last Two Years
Recent data from health tech leader DrFirst, shared with The Blast, reveals a significant rise in Ketamine prescriptions, with numbers tripling from July 2022 to July 2024. This surge in prescriptions is adding urgency to the conversation about the implications of Ketamine use, making it a hot topic in the wake of Perry's passing.
"Doctors are increasingly turning to ketamine as a treatment option because it often proves effective when other depression therapies fail," Colin Banas, MD, MHA, Chief Medical Officer, DrFirst, told The Blast exclusively via email. "In fact, ketamine prescriptions within the DrFirst prescribing network have tripled over the past two years."
"However, as its use becomes more widespread, so do the associated risks," he added.
Matthew Perry Was Undergoing Ketamine Treatment At The Time Of His Death
The actor was undergoing ketamine treatment at the time of his death, but the autopsy revealed that the drug’s half-life and the timing of his last therapy session ruled out the possibility that it was administered through his prescribed treatment.
After further investigation, a total of five individuals have been charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death, including Dr. Mark Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Erik Fleming, who confessed to distributing the ketamine that caused Perry's death, Jasveen Sangha, whom prosecutors say is also known as “the Ketamine Queen," and Kenneth Iwamasa, the actor’s live-in personal assistant.
"The challenge with ketamine, like any controlled substance, lies in striking the right balance between accessibility for patients and ensuring their safety," Dr. Banas told The Blast.
Five Charged In Connection To Matthew Perry's Death
Fleming revealed that he sourced the ketamine from Sangha and then distributed it to Iwamasa. Prosecutors allege that Iwamasa conspired with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally acquire and supply ketamine to Perry.
Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry with the potent anesthetic multiple times, including on October 28, 2023, the day the “Friends” star passed away, despite lacking medical training.
Prosecutors may use Dr. Mark Chavez's testimony to strengthen their case against Plasencia, according to a review of the indictment. Notably, the indictment includes damning text messages between Chavez and Plasencia, in which Plasencia discussed how much to charge Perry for ketamine.
One message read, “I wonder how much this moron will pay,” while another said, “Let’s find out.”
Matthew Perry Openly Discussed His Struggles With Addiction
Perry had a “history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, diabetes; drug use in past — reportedly clean for 19 months; heavy tobacco user for many years but currently not smoking; on ketamine infusion therapy with most recent therapy reportedly one and a half weeks before death," the autopsy report stated.
Toxicology testing revealed that ketamine levels in Perry's system were at 3540 ng/ml. For perspective, the report obtained by The Blast notes that in monitored surgical-anesthesiology care, ketamine levels typically range from 1000-6000 ng/ml.
In his 2022 memoir, the "Friends" star opened up about his experience with ketamine therapy, noting “ketamine was a very popular street drug in the 1980s," but "there is a synthetic form of it now, and it’s used for two reasons: to ease pain and help with depression."
He added that ketamine "has my name written all over it — they might as well have called it ‘Matty’."
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
