Matthew Perry's intense battle with addiction in the months leading up to his death has been further illuminated by details from his personal effects. Documents reportedly found at his home reveal a staggering daily consumption of up to 55 opioid pills, alongside other concerning items like a bag of his own teeth.
The actor's struggle with drinking and drug usage intensified after joining the cast of Friends at the age of 24.
Perry's own words from his memoir highlight the severity of his condition: "Not only do I have the disease, but I also have it bad," he wrote, a sentiment published nearly one year before his passing.
In the months preceding his death, Perry reportedly purchased large quantities of ketamine from an individual described as the 'Ketamine Queen,' who catered to high-end celebrity clients. According to coroners, ketamine was the primary cause of Perry's death, with drowning listed as a secondary factor.
The actor's public battle with alcohol and prescription drugs at times threatened his career, and he estimated that he underwent rehabilitation 15 times, detoxed 65 times, and attended 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in his lifetime in pursuit of sobriety.
Perry's final social media post, shared five days before his death, showed him in a hot tub, captioned with a reflection on being "saved" by attending to his addiction issues.
He once mused, "It is very odd to live in a world where, if you died, it would shock people but surprise no one."