The death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry has spurred the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) into action. The agency is drawing alarming parallels between the rise in ketamine use and the early days of the opioid epidemic. As Double Blind reported, the DEA is now signaling a potential crackdown on what it describes as “ketamine pill mills,” sparking a heated debate within the medical and psychedelic communities.

Read Also: Matthew Perry’s Assistant, Doctors Charged With Supplying Ketamine To ‘Friends’ Star, Aiding In Overdose Death (UPDATED)

Rise Of Ketamine In Medicine And Popular Culture

In a recent statement, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram expressed concern over the increasing availability of ketamine, a drug that has traditionally not been at the forefront of the drug war. “Every single day, we are targeting and investigating doctors, nurse practitioners, others, who are violating this duty of trust to their patients by overprescribing medicine or prescribing medicine that isn't necessary,” Milgram told CBS. The DEA’s investigation revealed that Matthew Perry was charged around $50,000 over one month for a supply of ketamine, raising red flags about potential overprescription practices.

Ketamine, once relegated to the realm of anesthetics and illicit use, has seen a resurgence in recent years as a promising treatment for depression, anxiety and PTSD. Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato, a ketamine-based nasal spray, is poised to become the first billion-dollar psychedelic treatment, reflecting the drug’s growing prominence in both medical and popular culture.

Concerns From Mental Health Professionals

However, the DEA’s focus on ketamine has sparked concern among mental health professionals and advocates who fear that the agency’s actions could stifle access to a potentially life-saving treatment. Sandhya Prashad, MD, president of the Association of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners, emphasized the drug’s importance in psychiatry. “Further regulation and guardrails are certainly required. However, it is important to understand that ketamine is the only anti-suicidal / immediately lifesaving treatment within psychiatry currently that is also backed by well-conducted, rigorous trials from major academic institutions, and is a major advancement in a field where other treatments have a very low rate of response,” Prashad stated in the Ecstatic Integration newsletter.

The DEA’s rhetoric has also drawn criticism for its apparent echoes of the opioid crisis, particularly in its use of terms like “pill mills” to describe clinics that provide ketamine treatments. Ben Spielberg, CEO of Bespoke Treatment, acknowledged the need for better screening at ketamine clinics but warned against demonizing a drug that could offer significant benefits. “I personally have called 8 different ketamine clinics under a different name, and not a single one asked about my substance abuse history. Don't you think that would be among the most important questions asked?” Spielberg said. He stressed that while ketamine should not be used as a long-term treatment, it can play a crucial role in helping patients recover.

Elijah McClain’s Death: A Cautionary Tale

The debate over ketamine’s place in medicine took a darker turn following the death of Elijah McClain in 2019. McClain, who was forcibly administered a large dose of ketamine by paramedics after being detained by police, died under circumstances that have raised serious questions about the drug’s use outside of controlled clinical settings. While McClain’s case is markedly different from Perry’s, it underscores the potential dangers of ketamine when used improperly.

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