Key Points

• Doctors supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine despite them knowing he allegedly suffered adverse effects from the drug.

• The actor died in October 2023 from the acute effects of ketamine. He was 54.

• “Doctor Feelgoods” of Hollywood Demons premieres on Monday, May 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID.

Matthew Perry was supplied ketamine even after doctors knew he allegedly experienced adverse effects from the drug.

In the latest episode of Hollywood Demons, experts take a deep dive into the investigation surrounding Perry’s death in October 2023, which was the result of acute effects of ketamine. Perry died on Oct. 28, 2023, after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 54.

Perry had been open about his substance use and addiction throughout his life, including in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.

The ketamine level in Perry’s heart when he died was 3271 ng/ml, which is enough to render a person unconscious. The ketamine exacerbated the underlying issues the actor faced.

Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia were the initial source of ketamine for Perry, initially injecting the actor themselves. In one instance, when Dr. Plasencia had injected Perry, there was an adverse reaction where his blood pressure spiked and the actor was suddenly unable to move.

In the documentary, Bill Bodner, a retired DEA special agent in charge, noted that the doctors should have realized that administering the drug outside of a hospital could be very dangerous.

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However, they continued to supply the actor with ketamine through his live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and the doctors showed him how to inject Perry. Addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky called it “mind-boggling” that Iwamasa, who is not a medical professional, was given instructions from doctors on administering the drug.

The last injections Perry received that came from from Drs. Chavez and Plasencia were on Oct 12, 2023. Perry and Iwamasa then sought ketamine through the black market outside of doctors. The day Perry died, Iwamasa injected him three times with ketamine which had been supplied by Jasveen Sangha, also knowns as the Ketamine Queen.

Following Perry’s death, an investigation was launched into whether there was a crime at the root of Perry’s death, unearthing a web of connections, which led to the arrests of Drs. Chavez and Plasencia, Iwamasa, Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry’s who distributed 50 vials of ketamine to Perry from his source, and Sangha.

In August 2024, Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and has yet to be sentenced. In August 2024, Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, and has yet to be sentenced.

Dr. Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution. In December, he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, along with two years of supervised release after his time behind bars, a $5,600 fine, and a $400 special assessment. Dr. Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. In December, he was sentenced to eight months of home confinement, and three years of probation and community service.

In September 2025, Sangha pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including illegally providing the ketamine that resulted in Perry’s fatal overdose in 2023. In April, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

“Devastating cases of celebrity overdoses often make global headlines – however, the revered professionals behind the scenes who can sometimes be responsible for these tragic, untimely deaths often go unnoticed,” a synopsis for the episode reads.

“Over the course of two hours, this episode will offer insight into the actions of misbehaving doctors and examine overall the multimillion-dollar pharmaceutical industry. Addiction experts, as well as key legal voices involved in celebrity overdose cases, and loved ones of victims share their stories, in hopes of bringing better awareness.”

“Doctor Feelgoods” premieres on Monday, May 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID. New episodes of Hollywood Demons premiere weekly. Episodes are available to stream on HBO Max.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly