**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**DATELINE: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA**
**ANCHOR:** In a sobering development emerging from the entertainment industry, authorities have confirmed the details surrounding the passing of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry.
**WHAT:** The official cause of death for the 54-year-old actor has been determined to be acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. The manner of death has been ruled an accident.
**WHO:** Matthew Perry, globally recognized for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom *Friends*, was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles residence.
**WHERE:** The incident occurred at Mr. Perry's home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
**WHEN:** Mr. Perry was discovered deceased on October 28, 2023. The official toxicology report and cause of death determination were released on December 15, 2023.
**WHY:** Investigators have stated that the actor was undergoing supervised ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety. However, the ketamine found in his system at the time of death was not from his last known therapeutic session, which occurred over a week prior. The medical examiner's report indicates that the high levels of ketamine in his blood were sufficient to cause cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression, leading to the fatal accident.
**HOW:** A comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of how Mr. Perry obtained the lethal dose of ketamine outside his prescribed therapy is ongoing. Law enforcement officials are working to determine the source of the drug that led to this tragic accident.