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- Matthew Perry died from the "acute effects" of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic.
- The drug also has lifesaving potential as a treatment for depression.
- Experts are grappling with how to talk about the ketamine's dangers while avoiding moral panic.
When Charles Patti read that ketamine had been a major factor in the "Friends" star Matthew Perry's death, his heart sank.
"Oh, boy, this headline is not positive for the movement," he thought.
Patti is the chief brand officer at a Florida-based chain of ketamine clinics. Like many in the industry, he sees ketamine as a wonder drug with the potential to save the lives of patients with treatment-resistant depression.