Friends star Matthew Perry’s death: Indian origin ‘Ketamine Queen’ to be sentenced
Matthew Perry was found dead at his home in 2023.
Matthew Perry was found dead at his home in 2023.
Matthew Perry was found dead at his home in 2023.
Forty-two-year-old Jasveen Sangha, known among Los Angeles drug dealers as Ketamine Queen, is all set to be sentenced for illegally supplying the prescription anaesthetic to Friends star Matthew Perry, which eventually led to his death in 2023. She pleaded guilty in September 2025 and is expected to be sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday. Sangha, who is of Punjabi origin, is an MBA graduate from Hult Business School in London. However, for over five years, she has apparently been supplying the drug ketamine in celebrity circles, according to investigators. Here's everything you need to know about the drug and how it affected Matthew Perry's life.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is an anaesthetic medication. According to the National Institutes of Health, it has hallucinogenic and analgesic properties as well. It is also used to treat anxiety and depression. However, due to its potential to be abused, it is classified as a 'controlled substance.' It has also gained popularity as an illicit party drug among recreational users.
What are its risks?
Misuse of the medicine can result in cognitive impairment, respiratory difficulties, bladder issues and even death, especially when paired with alcohol.
When is ketamine safe to use?
It is safe to use only when administered in controlled medical practice by doctors.
How did ketamine affect Matthew Perry?
According to Medical examiners, Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, which, combined with other factors, caused the actor to lose consciousness and drown in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. It was supplied to him by Sangha through Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa. Perry had publicly acknowledged decades of substance abuse, including periods that overlapped with the height of his fame playing the sardonic but charming Chandler Bing on the 1990s hit NBC television comedy Friends.
What are the side effects of ketamine?
a) Nausea
b) Confusion
c) Uneasiness
d) Drowsiness
e) Vomiting
f) Dizziness
(With inputs from Reuters)