Medical professional confesses to illegally supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his demise
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California-based doctor, has pleaded guilty to four felony counts of distributing ketamine, a drug that contributed to the death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. Perry, best known for his role in the popular sitcom Friends, died at the age of 54.
On October 28, 2023, Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub. The medical examiner later ruled his death was caused by the "acute effects of ketamine," with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and effects of buprenorphine, a medication used for opioid addiction treatment.
Plasencia, who Perry knew as "Dr. P," was not Perry's treating physician at the time of death but supplied ketamine through Perry's live-in assistant. The prosecution has stated that Plasencia and other defendants exploited Perry's addiction vulnerabilities for profit.
Plasencia, who is 43 years old, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 23, 2025. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped three additional counts of ketamine distribution and two counts of falsifying records. Plasencia faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and up to $2 million in fines, and he has also agreed to surrender his medical license within 30 to 45 days.
Perry had been undergoing ketamine therapy for depression, but after his doctor refused to increase his dosage, Perry sought ketamine through illegal channels, indicating a worsening addiction. This case has drawn attention to the lack of regulation and potential dangers of ketamine therapy outside strict medical supervision.
Five people have been charged in connection with Perry's death, and Plasencia is the fourth person to plead guilty. The remaining defendant is yet to plead guilty. Plasencia's attorney expressed remorse on his behalf and indicated he hopes this case prompts stricter oversight and regulation of the expanding at-home ketamine treatment industry.
In light of the tragedy, the expanding at-home ketamine treatment industry for health and wellness might require stricter regulation to prevent similar medical-conditions associated with addiction, as seen in the case of the late actor Matthew Perry, who succumbed to acute effects of ketamine on October 28, 2023. Meanwhile, celebrities like Perry, who made their mark in entertainment through shows like Friends, might serve as poignant reminders of the impact that uncontrolled use of such drugs could have on science and public health.
