Matthew Perry, renowned for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the beloved show Friends, faced an incredibly turbulent personal life marked by significant challenges, particularly his battle with addiction. Sadly, he passed away on October 28 at the age of 54. In his poignant 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he candidly wrote about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, offering insight into the toll these substances took on his health and relationships.

In his memoir, Matthew disclosed that he had spent over $9 million on various attempts to achieve sobriety, including multiple rehab stays and consultations with therapists. Despite the overwhelming financial burden, he aimed to use his experiences as a beacon of hope for others grappling with similar challenges, demonstrating that recovery is possible even after a long and arduous journey.

During a revealing podcast interview with Tom Power in 2022, Matthew expressed a profound desire to help those struggling with addiction. He stated, “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 and do it.” He emphasized that he wanted this to be the legacy he left behind, aiming to support others while living authentically and with purpose.

Continue reading to uncover more details about Matthew Perry’s tumultuous journey with drug and alcohol abuse, his ongoing recovery efforts, and the state of his health leading up to his untimely death.

What Did Matthew Perry Say About Addiction When He Was Alive?

In an unfortunate turn of events, Matthew became addicted to Vicodin after suffering a jet ski accident in 1997. This powerful narcotic, typically used for pain relief, soon spiraled into a deeper addiction that involved alcohol abuse, as reported by US Weekly. That same year, he voluntarily admitted himself into a rehab facility in Minnesota, marking the beginning of a long and challenging battle against addiction. Despite his repeated efforts to achieve sobriety, he often found himself caught in a cycle of relapse and recovery.

Just three years after his initial stint in rehab, Matthew faced a serious health crisis when he was hospitalized in 2000 due to alcohol-related pancreatitis. Following a two-week hospital stay, he began detoxing during the filming of Friends, which led to noticeable changes in his physical appearance during seasons six and seven. Throughout his journey, Matthew struggled to maintain his sobriety, resulting in over 15 rehab admissions as he fought against the powerful grip of addiction.

Matthew Perry’s Addiction Recovery Journey

It was in 2002 that Matthew first opened up about his addiction struggles to The New York Times, acknowledging the depth of his challenges and the need for assistance. He described the fleeting euphoria of his addiction, comparing it to “Disneyland” for a brief period, only to realize later that it was a hollow experience that did not fill the void in his life. He candidly admitted, “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,” illustrating the dire circumstances that drove him toward recovery.

Throughout his life, Matthew battled with alcohol abuse, confessing that he first experimented with drinking at the tender age of 14, eventually escalating to daily consumption by 18, as reported by ABC News. This early introduction to alcohol set the stage for a tumultuous relationship with substances that lasted for decades.

He shared his unique rule of never drinking on set, but despite this, he often arrived at work suffering from extreme hangovers. “It’s so horrible to feel that way and have to work and be funny on top of that,” Matthew reflected on the immense pressure he faced while trying to maintain his career amidst his addiction.

Matthew’s life was a continuous cycle of entering and exiting rehab facilities, as he sought to reclaim his life from the clutches of addiction.

How Long Was Matthew Perry Sober?

According to Entertainment Tonight, Matthew achieved sobriety in 2021, just a few months prior to filming the widely celebrated Friends Reunion on HBO Max. In his 2022 memoir, he recounted a powerful moment with his therapist, who prompted him to consider the dire consequences of relapse. “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,” he revealed, demonstrating the life-altering decisions he was forced to confront.

Before achieving this sobriety, Matthew faced a serious health scare in 2018 when he was hospitalized for three months due to a gastrointestinal perforation. He humorously shared this difficult experience on Twitter, writing, “Three months in a hospital bed. Check,” showcasing his ability to find humor even in the darkest times of his life.

How Was Matthew Perry Doing Before His Death?

In November 2022, during an appearance on The View, Matthew told co-host Whoopi Goldberg that he was feeling “really well” and that his life was “going great,” hinting at a newfound sense of stability and happiness.

Around the same period, he participated in an open and honest interview with Diane Sawyer, where he shared insights into his past struggles while promoting his memoir. He revealed shocking details, including his battle with taking 55 Vicodin pills daily, a life-threatening coma lasting two weeks, and over 14 surgeries throughout his life.

Matthew recounted a harrowing moment where his family rushed to the hospital, receiving the grim news that he had only a 2 percent chance of surviving the night. “And, you know, my mom heard that, and my dad heard that,” he shared, highlighting the emotional toll his addiction journey took on his loved ones.

At the time of these interviews, Matthew expressed a positive mindset, stating he was on the “winning side” in his recovery journey. “I’ve surrendered, but to the winning side, not the losing,” he wrote in his memoir, illustrating his determination to overcome the challenges posed by drugs and alcohol.

Following his tragic passing in 2023, TMZ reported that the toxicology report indicated that Matthew died from the “acute effects of ketamine,” shedding light on the complexities of his long-term battle with addiction.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for support and assistance.