What Matthew Perry's Toxicology Report Just Ruled Out
As the world mourns the sudden death of Matthew Perry, fans have been concerned that drugs and alcohol may have played a part. But an initial toxicology report has at least ruled out some of those potential causes.
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00:00 As the world mourns the sudden death of Matthew Perry, fans have been concerned that drugs
00:05 and alcohol may have played a part, but an initial toxicology report has at least ruled
00:09 out some of those potential causes.
00:12 According to a recent report by TMZ, an initial test revealed that the late actor did not
00:17 have meth or fentanyl in his system at the time of his passing.
00:20 Perry was found dead in his hot tub at his home in Los Angeles over the weekend.
00:24 He was just 54 years old.
00:26 The outlet cautions that more in-depth tests are still being conducted to see if any other
00:31 illegal drugs were present in his blood at the time of his passing, and, quote, "if the
00:35 levels of any prescription meds were at harmful doses."
00:38 Those more in-depth toxicology results could take months to be revealed.
00:43 Perry has been very open about his struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction over the
00:46 years.
00:47 The actor, who was best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, recently opened
00:51 up about his journey to sobriety in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
00:57 The manner of death has still not been confirmed by officials, but initial reports indicated
01:02 that Perry had drowned.
01:04 In the wake of Perry's passing, there has been an outpouring of support from fans of
01:07 his work and those who worked with him over the years.
01:10 His co-stars from Friends recently released a joint statement mourning the loss of their
01:14 real-life friend.
01:16 The statement read,
01:17 "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew.
01:21 We were more than just castmates.
01:23 We are a family.
01:25 There is so much to say, but right now we're going to take a moment to grieve and process
01:30 this unfathomable loss."
01:32 While Perry was best known for his role as Chandler, the actor had a very successful
01:36 career beyond the wildly popular sitcom he helped anchor.
01:39 Some of the actor's other roles included movies such as The Whole Nine Yards and Seventeen
01:44 Again, as well as guest appearances on hit shows like Scrubs and The Simpsons.
01:49 But Perry's powerful legacy extends beyond just the beloved characters he portrayed on
01:53 screen.
01:54 The actor was open about his struggles with addiction for years.
01:57 In an entertainment culture rife with powerful depictions of the intimate struggles we all
02:01 face - from substance abuse to mental illness - it's still somewhat taboo for actors to
02:06 be open about their own struggles.
02:09 Perry broke the mold
02:11 As early as 2002, at the height of his Friends fame, Perry was candid about his fight against
02:16 alcohol and drug abuse.
02:18 In a People magazine cover story from September that year, Perry shared that he'd been to
02:22 rehab in 1997 and 2001.
02:26 If opening up about addiction is hard now, it was even harder 20 years ago, especially
02:30 when Perry wasn't viewed so much as a flawed, sympathetic human being, but as the strong,
02:35 goofy, lovable character he played on Friends.
02:38 To admit to dark, private struggles such as these might have risked alienating his fans.
02:43 Instead, it made him an inspiration and role model to people everywhere enduring the same
02:48 hardships.
02:49 "It was important to me to do something that would help people."
02:53 In a 2015 profile in The Hollywood Reporter, Perry shed light on his efforts to fight addiction
02:58 beyond his own personal struggles.
03:01 Perry had helped an addiction treatment center, the Phoenix House, broaden its profile and
03:05 take in more patients.
03:07 He also had established his own sober living facility called Perry House.
03:11 For his advocacy, the Office of National Drug Control Policy gave him the Champion of Recovery
03:16 Award in 2013, recognizing him as a fierce ally to those battling substance abuse and
03:22 addiction.
03:23 His candidness and advocacy continue to inspire others to pursue sobriety.
03:27 He will be sorely missed.
03:29 If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
03:34 Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact
03:38 SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
03:45 [Music]