Matthew Perry, celebrated for his role in Friends, faced a prolonged struggle with addiction before his passing on October 28, 2023. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he openly discussed his battles with substance abuse and his numerous attempts at recovery.
Perry disclosed spending approximately $9 million on treatments and therapies to maintain sobriety. Despite challenges, he was committed to assisting others in similar situations. “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up,” he stated in a 2022 interview with Tom Power.
Following Perry’s death, several individuals were accused of providing him access to controlled substances, including the convicted doctor Salvador Plasencia. These events have intensified scrutiny on prescription practices and medical oversight in cases involving addiction and celebrity access.
Continue reading to explore his journey with addiction, recovery efforts, and his condition before his death.
Matthew Perry’s Insights on Addiction
In 1997, Perry became addicted to Vicodin following a jet ski accident. This addiction led to alcohol abuse, as reported by US Weekly, prompting him to enter rehab in Minnesota that year. Despite efforts, he struggled to maintain sobriety and experienced relapses.
Three years later, in 2000, Perry was hospitalized for alcohol-related pancreatitis. After a two-week hospitalization, he began detoxing on the Friends set, with noticeable changes in his appearance during seasons 6 and 7. He faced multiple relapses and entered rehab over 15 times.
Matthew Perry’s Recovery Journey
In 2002, Perry discussed his struggles with The New York Times, acknowledging his need for help.
“When [fame] happens, it’s kind of like Disneyland for a while. For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of ‘I’ve made it, I’m thrilled, there’s no problem in the world.’ And then you realize that it doesn’t accomplish anything, it’s certainly not filling any holes in your life,” he told the outlet, one year after getting sober again. “I didn’t get sober because I felt like it. I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.”
Perry also battled alcohol abuse, starting at age 14 and drinking daily by 18, according to ABC News.
“I had this odd rule that I would never drink on a set,” the 17 Again star said. “But I went to work in extreme cases of hangover. It’s so horrible to feel that way and have to work and be funny on top of that.”
Perry spent two decades in and out of rehab facilities.
Duration of Matthew Perry’s Sobriety
Perry achieved sobriety in 2021, as reported by Entertainment Tonight, just before filming the Friends Reunion HBO Max special. In his 2022 book, he affirmed his sobriety, stating, “My therapist said, ‘The next time you think about taking Oxycontin, just think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life … And a little window opened and I crawled through it and I no longer want Oxycontin anymore.”
In 2018, Perry was hospitalized for three months due to a gastrointestinal perforation. He humorously announced this on Twitter: “Three months in a hospital bed. Check.”
Matthew Perry’s Condition Before Passing
In November 2022, Perry appeared on The View and told co-host Whoopi Goldberg that he was “doing really well” and that his life was “going great.”
Around the same time, in an interview with Diane Sawyer, he discussed his struggles while promoting his memoir. He revealed taking 55 Vicodin pills daily, being in a coma for two weeks, and undergoing over 14 surgeries.
“One of the things I have to deal with is that my family rushed to the hospital and were told that I have a 2 percent chance to make it through the night,” he shared. “And, you know, my mom heard that, and my dad heard that.”
Perry expressed a positive outlook on his recovery journey, writing, “I’ve surrendered, but to the winning side, not the losing,” and that he was no longer trapped in a battle with substances.
After his unexpected death in 2023, TMZ reported that the toxicology report indicated Perry died from the “acute effects of ketamine.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
