What is ketamine? What killed Matthew Perry

Months after his death, an investigation has lead to five arrests in the ketamine death of actor Matthew Perry.

Five people have been charged in connection with Perry's death, two doctors, a narcotics distributer, his live-in personal assistant and an alleged drug dealer accused of selling him the batch of ketamine that killed him.

The 54-year old actor, famous for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends" was found floating face down in the his pool last October. His cause of death was the result of "acute effects of ketamine" and subsequent drowning, according to the autopsy report.

Perry suffered a decades-long battled with mental illness and alcohol and drug addictions through his own admission.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that also has hallucinogenic effects. It is used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia and it is also used as a treatment for depression and pain management.

The drug can distort perceptions of sight and sound, making the user disconnected or detached from their pain or environment. It is often abused for theses same qualities, in that it can also induce a state of calm, immobility and amnesia while under the influence.

According to sources, ketamine is also marketed for the management of any number of different psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain among others.

Ketamine comes in a clear liquid that can be injected or mixed into drinks.

It also comes in a white or off-white powder form that can be snorted or smoked. Common street names for ketamine are cat tranquilizer, cat valium, jet K, kit kat, purple, Special K, super acid, super K, and vitamin K.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: What is ketamine? What killed Matthew Perry