Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a doctor implicated in providing ketamine to Matthew Perry leading up to the actor’s fatal overdose, has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution. This decision comes after three other defendants, including another doctor, had already agreed to plead guilty in exchange for cooperation with authorities. Plasencia had been set to face trial in August before opting to enter a guilty plea, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

The Friends star, Perry, tragically died from a ketamine overdose on October 28, 2023, with the medical examiner attributing ketamine as the primary cause of death. Perry had been using ketamine as an off-label treatment for depression through his regular doctor before seeking more of the drug from Dr. Plasencia. Court filings revealed that Plasencia had obtained ketamine from another doctor, Mark Chavez, and sold it to Perry for $4,500.

Another defendant, Jasmine Sangha, alleged to be a major ketamine dealer, is accused of providing the dose that ultimately led to Perry’s death. Sangha has pleaded not guilty and is set to go to trial in August, making her the only one of the five individuals charged in connection with Perry’s death who has not entered a plea agreement.

Matthew Perry’s battle with addiction, which dated back to his time on the iconic TV show Friends, where he portrayed Chandler Bing, underscores the tragic consequences of substance abuse. Perry’s untimely death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with substance misuse and the devastating impact it can have on individuals and their loved ones.