Latest news with #Friends'
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Lake showing signs of recovery
Fix the catchment and you'll fix the lake. That's the mantra the Friends of Lake Hayes has adopted to guide its efforts of nearly 20 years to restore the health of the picturesque lake between Arrowtown and Frankton. Now that mantra is starting to bear fruit. Since gathering an alliance of organisations around it — the Wai Whakaata strategy group — the Friends' members are starting to see real improvement, its chairman Mike Hanff says. Wai Whakaata — the Friends, Kai Tahu, Queenstown's council, the Otago Regional Council and the Department of Conservation — is into its fifth year of implementing the Lake Hayes Vision study. The study is a science-led plan of action for reversing the impacts of many decades of sediment runoff that's accumulated in the lake. Hanff says since the "bad years" of 2018 to 2020, the amount of sediment flowing into the lake has reduced by about 75%. The lake's water clarity is now the best he's ever seen, and is approaching a "tipping point" — which may be reached in five years — when the lake will be permanently clear. He expects the toxic algal blooms that have made the lake unsafe for recreational use by people and dogs to become less and less severe before eventually stopping. A series of interventions, which have cost an estimated $12million so far, are nearing full implementation. They include the restoration of the wetland at the lake's northern end, the installation and regular clearing of sediment traps in the lake's main tributary, Mill Creek, and large-scale riparian planting. Vegetation's been cleared from Hayes Creek — below the lake's outlet — to alleviate flooding at its southern end. That's allowing another remediation measure that will start in September: piping water from the Arrow River irrigation scheme, near Macetown, to boost the flow of water into the lake. The colder, denser Arrow River water will displace and help flush out the phosphorus-laden water at the bottom of Lake Hayes during the summer and autumn periods. Hanff says a new policy in the district plan, which requires landowners in the lake's catchment to account for water quality in any development, is having a real impact. That's been supported by the Friends' "non-confrontational" approach with landowners, getting alongside them to offer support and guidance. Winton Group's Ayrburn is an example of the "amazing opportunities" for water quality improvements when developers take responsibility for their stormwater, sewerage and fertiliser outcomes, he says. "We've never been anti-development ... we just want to help everyone in the catchment understand what they can do to play their part." Hanff says continuing the "trajectory of improvement" will come down to how well landowners manage the 12 to 20 million cubic metres of water that runs off the lake's 42 sqkm catchment each year. That's a massive swathe of land extending from the Mt Dewar-Coronet Peak ridgeline, across Speargrass Flat and Dalefield to the eastern suburbs of Ladies Mile, Shotover Country and Lake Hayes Estate, and around the lake's eastern side from Millbrook to Morven Hill. Already one of the most studied lakes in New Zealand, it's now being intensively monitored, in real time, by a suite of sensors dangling from a buoy, and by sampling along Mill Creek that measure the water's sediment load, Hanff says. "We know how much phosphorus is arriving in the lake every 10 minutes." Through the Friends' work with Wai Whakaata, that data's showing the lake's health is going in the right direction, he says. "But we've got to keep the foot on it."
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Matthew Perry's Doctor Pleads Guilty to Ketamine Distribution
Yara Sameh Matthew Perry's doctor, Salvador Plasencia, entered a guilty plea Wednesday to four counts of ketamine distribution, and will face sentencing on December 3. As part of the deal, Plasencia, 43, will surrender his medical license within the next 30-45 days, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. He will remain free on bond pending his sentencing. Plasencia took a plea deal in June in which he admitted to distributing ketamine without a legitimate medical purpose to the 'Friends' star, who died of an overdose in October 2023. In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges of falsifying medical records and additional counts of distribution. The lone remaining defendant in the case, Jasveen Sangha, nicknamed the 'Ketamine Queen,' is scheduled to face a trial next month. She is alleged to have maintained a stash house in North Hollywood for the illicit distribution of the drug. Plasencia faces a theoretical maximum of 40 years behind bars, but is likely to receive far less than that under federal sentencing guidelines. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors detailed the circumstances underlying the charges before the plea, and acknowledged that Plasencia did not sell Perry the fatal dose. Plasencia spoke only in response to questions from Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. Three other defendants — Erik Fleming, Kenneth Iwamasa and Mark Chavez — previously agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Authorities previously alleged that Plasencia concocted a fake 'treatment plan' for Perry after his death, in a vain attempt to cover his tracks. Plasencia was also quoted in a text message to another doctor gloating about his arrangement with Perry, saying 'I wonder how much this moron will pay… Let's find out.' read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Friends' star Matthew Perry's doctor admits giving ketamine to him without any medical reason: How this drug abuse impacts the body
The doctor who gave ketamine to 'Friends' star Matthew Perry, leading to his overdose-induced death in 2023, has pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles court. Dr Salvador Plasencia admitted that he illegally gave the powerful drug to Perry without a proper medical reason. Ketamine is normally used as an anaesthetic and as a component in certain antidepressants, but in this case, it was supplied for non-medical, recreational use. According to reports, Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression every other day for a certain period of time but had reduced that intake later. Since he had diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the drug overdose might have complicated airflow blockage and breathing problems. 'It is a Schedule X drug in India, which means it is tightly controlled and even monitored on a case-specific basis by the prescribing doctor. As a therapeutic intervention, it is safe. The risk is only with unauthorised use,' says Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, psychiatrist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. WHAT IS KETAMINE? Derived from a hallucinogenic drug Phencyclidine (PCP), it halts transmission of pain in the spinal cord and activates reward pathways of the brain. Hence ketamine began to be used in pain management and anaesthesia. It was found as a promising new treatment for severe depression because of its euphoric quality and began to be prescribed to pull patients out of their troughs. WHY IS IT PRONE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE? In low doses, ketamine alters perception and coordination, inducing euphoria. As doses increase, the person may get completely disconnected from reality and even experience an 'out of body' experience. Loss of consciousness can also occur at high doses. Since it dissolves in water easily, it is difficult to keep tabs on the amount used. HOW DOES OVERDOSE HAPPEN? Ketamine can become toxic when it is mixed with alcohol, as both substances impact respiration, cardiovascular functioning and the nervous system. It can make you unstable enough and susceptible to falls, drowning, vehicular accidents and hypothermia. HOW KETAMINE OVERDOSE IMPACTS YOUR BODY Certain medical conditions can exacerbate the risk of ketamine toxicity. Somebody with a pre-existing heart disease or hypertension can face intracranial pressure that pushes up the risk of stroke. There is diminished blood flow to heart muscles. Since ketamine is a relaxant, too much of it can complicate breathing, which becomes shallow. It is toxic for the urinary bladder and liver. Unregulated high doses can lead to drug dependence and schizophrenia. HOW DO YOU TREAT OVERDOSE? There is no drug yet to counter its effects. So there has to be supportive care. The patient may have to be put on a monitor and intubated to relieve respiratory distress.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Doctor pleads guilty to selling Matthew Perry ketamine in weeks before actor's death
A doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to giving Matthew Perry ketamine in the month leading up to the 'Friends' star's overdose death. Dr Salvador Plasencia became the fourth of the five people charged in connection with Perry's death to plead guilty. He stood next to his lawyer and admitted guilt to four counts to Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in federal court in Los Angeles. Plasencia, 43, was to have gone on trial in August until the doctor agreed last month to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, according to the signed document filed in federal court in Los Angeles. He spoke only to answer the judge's questions. When asked if his lawyers had considered all the possibilities of pleas and sentencing in the case, Plasencia replied, 'They've considered everything.' He had previously pleaded not guilty, but in exchange for the guilty pleas prosecutors have agreed to drop three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records. Prosecutors outlined the charges in court before the plea, and said, as Plasencia's lawyers have emphasised, that he did not sell Perry the dose that killed the actor. They described, and Plasencia admitted, that Perry froze up and his blood pressure spiked when the doctor gave him one injection, but Plasencia still left more ketamine for Perry's assistant to inject. In court, Perry was referred to only as 'victim MP'. The charges can carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and there is no guarantee Plasencia will get less, but he's likely to. He has been free on bond since shortly after his arrest in August, and will be allowed to remain free until his Dec 3 sentencing. Plasencia left the courthouse with his lawyers without speaking to reporters gathered outside. The only remaining defendant who has not reached an agreement with the US Attorney's Office is Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors allege is a drug dealer known as the 'Ketamine Queen' and sold Perry the lethal dose. Her trial is scheduled to begin next month. She has pleaded not guilty. According to prosecutors and co-defendants who reached their own deals, Plasencia illegally supplied Perry with a large amount of ketamine starting about a month before his death on Oct 28, 2023. According to a co-defendant, Plasencia in a text message called the actor a 'moron' who could be exploited for money. Perry's personal assistant, his friend, and another doctor all agreed to plead guilty last year in exchange for their cooperation as the government sought to make their case against larger targets, Plasencia and Sangha. None have been sentenced yet. Perry was found dead by the assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression, which has become increasingly common. Perry, 54, began seeking more ketamine than his doctor would give him. Plasencia admitted in his plea agreement that another patient connected him with Perry, and that starting about a month before Perry's death, he illegally supplied the actor with 20 vials of ketamine totalling 100 mg of the drug, along with ketamine lozenges and syringes. He admitted to enlisting another doctor, Mark Chavez, to supply the drug for him, according to the court filings. 'I wonder how much this moron will pay,' Plasencia texted Chavez, according to Chavez's plea agreement. After selling the drugs to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia allegedly asked Chavez if he could keep supplying them so they could become Perry's 'go-to,' prosecutors said. Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on 'Friends,' when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC's megahit.
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First Post
2 days ago
- First Post
Doctor pleads guilty to selling Matthew Perry ketamine in the weeks before the 'Friends' actor's death
Prosecutors outlined the charges in court before the plea, and said that he did not sell Perry the dose that killed the actor read more A doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to giving Matthew Perry ketamine in the month leading up to the 'Friends' star's overdose death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia became the fourth of the five people charged in connection with Perry's death to plead guilty. He stood next to his lawyer and admitted guilt to four counts to Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in federal court in Los Angeles. Plasencia, 43, was to have gone on trial in August until the doctor agreed last month to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, according to the signed document filed in federal court in Los Angeles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He spoke only to answer the judge's questions. When asked if his lawyers had considered all the possibilities of pleas and sentencing in the case, Plasencia replied, 'They've considered everything.' 'Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry,' the doctor's attorney, Debra White, said in an emailed statement after the hearing. 'He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution. Dr. Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Mr. Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction.' Plasencia had previously pleaded not guilty, but in exchange for the guilty pleas prosecutors have agreed to drop three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records. Prosecutors outlined the charges in court before the plea, and said that he did not sell Perry the dose that killed the actor. They described, and Plasencia admitted, that Perry froze up and his blood pressure spiked when the doctor gave him one injection, but Plasencia still left more ketamine for Perry's assistant to inject. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In court, Perry was referred to only as 'victim MP.' The charges can carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and there is no guarantee Plasencia will get less, but he's likely to. He has been free on bond since shortly after his arrest in August, and will be allowed to remain free until his Dec. 3 sentencing. Plasencia left the courthouse with his lawyers without speaking to reporters gathered outside. 'While Dr. Plasencia was not treating Mr. Perry at the time of his death,' his lawyer's statement said, 'he hopes his case serves as a warning to other medical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in order to prevent future tragedies like this.' The only remaining defendant who has not reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office is Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors allege is a drug dealer known as the 'Ketamine Queen' and sold Perry the lethal dose. Her trial is scheduled to begin next month. She has pleaded not guilty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to prosecutors and co-defendants who reached their own deals, Plasencia illegally supplied Perry with a large amount of ketamine starting about a month before his death on Oct. 28, 2023. According to a co-defendant, Plasencia in a text message called the actor a 'moron' who could be exploited for money. Perry's personal assistant, his friend, and another doctor all agreed to plead guilty last year in exchange for their cooperation as the government sought to make their case against larger targets, Plasencia and Sangha. None have been sentenced yet. Perry was found dead by the assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression, which has become increasingly common. Perry, 54, began seeking more ketamine than his doctor would give him. Plasencia admitted in his plea agreement that another patient connected him with Perry, and that starting about a month before Perry's death, he illegally supplied the actor with 20 vials of ketamine totaling 100 mg of the drug, along with ketamine lozenges and syringes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He admitted to enlisting another doctor, Mark Chavez, to supply the drug for him, according to the court filings. 'I wonder how much this moron will pay,' Plasencia texted Chavez, according to Chavez's plea agreement. After selling the drugs to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia allegedly asked Chavez if he could keep supplying them so they could become Perry's 'go-to,' prosecutors said. Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on 'Friends,' when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC's megahit.
