One year after the death of Matthew Perry, reportedly due to an overdose of ketamine according to the coroner’s report, the actor’s stepfather, Canadian journalist Keith Morrison, opened up about the effect ketamine had on the actor’s life. Morrison’s comments coincided with the inauguration of the Matthew Perry Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals battling addiction.

“When a doctor began prescribing him ketamine under supervision, [Matthew] constantly told us how effective it was, as it eliminated any symptoms of depression. He said he didn’t feel the need to take drugs like opioids or anything similar when undergoing ketamine treatment. His mother was especially cautious—she didn’t think ketamine was a good idea. But he kept telling her, over and over, ‘You know, it’s not addictive. That’s the great thing about this medication. It’s revolutionary; it will eradicate depression.’ But he had such a strongly addictive personality that, you know, when he stopped the treatment, he couldn’t manage on his own. His usual response was, ‘Let me increase the dosage as much as a person can tolerate.’ That was a recurring pattern, over and over again.”

“His mother was especially cautious—she didn’t think ketamine was a good idea. But he kept telling her, over and over, ‘You know, it’s not addictive. That’s the great thing about this medication. It’s revolutionary; it will eradicate depression.’”

“Ketamine is effective, particularly for certain types of depression. Many psychiatrists I’ve spoken to still recommend it. But this event [Perry’s death] is now so well-known that it has negatively impacted treatments. Those suffering from depression now fear ketamine, even though they shouldn’t in a controlled therapeutic setting. But it’s something that undoubtedly causes alarm,” Morrison added.