Why were medical doctors arrested in connection with Matthew Perry’s death?

It broke my heart to hear the news of the cause of Matthew Perry’s death last week. I’m glad that charges have been brought against the doctors and his hired help who supplied him with ketamine. The text messages they sent each other calling him a moron were particularly horrendous to read.

As someone who works alongside those struggling with addiction, I consider it an honour to work with someone who has finally reached out for help. That honour drives me in my therapy work. To help those along a road I too have walked. My heart hurts for Matthew Perry.

I don’t cry a lot but I remember being in my second year at university and I had just read his book and was on my way to class. There was a part where he spoke about his father getting home and reaching for the whiskey before acknowledging Matthew. How the smell of old spice from his dad lingered. I had this experience with my own dad.

I know the feeling of living with an alter ego who you ‘put on’ and face the world with.

Although I have never experienced the level of fame Matthew did, I know the feeling of living with an alter ego who you ‘put on’ and face the world with. I also know the struggle of trauma and consequential addiction. 

Alcohol helps sustain the charade and makes life easier. Someone in my university made a comment: ‘how can you feel sad for a millionaire who could get the best help?’

That comment made me angry cry and I left the class, because the one thing I know is when you are famous, getting the best help isn’t as easy as you think. Matthew Perry’s case has proven that. The people he called to help just saw him as a cash cow. They lined their pockets, whilst abusing and mocking him. 

I know I would have never been able to give up alcohol and other destructive behaviours towards myself without the power of God.

In Matthew’s book he talks about God. I know I would have never been able to give up alcohol and other destructive behaviours towards myself without the power of God. I tried many times to do it alone. Although I knew God loved me when I was so hungover I thought I was going to die.

Jesus still loved me when I made reckless decisions that could have killed me. But did he want that life for me? No. I knew God loved me so much but wanted a better life for me. I didn’t want to fail anymore. I wanted to reward that love by turning my life around.

I quit drinking over a year ago now, and I do not miss it. I thank God for his strength as I did not have had the will power to do it alone. I have changed many destructive behaviours due to the strength of staying in constant relationship to God. I got my degree in psychotherapy and am now about to begin my masters.

Starting my business Faith In Me Therapy and working with others on their journey out of addiction and depression is my thank you to God and my pay back for a second chance at life. My heart hurts that the professional people who were there to help Matthew saw it as an opportunity to reward themselves as their patient perished. I hope they get a heavy sentence and this exposes the dark side of the medical profession.

Everything that is hidden will come to light (Mark, 4:22). May God have mercy on their souls, and may Matthew Perry know the eternal peace that he struggled to find on earth.

Suzie Kennedy runs Faith in Me Therapy