Michael Douglas opens up on son Cameron's drug addiction: 'I thought I was going to lose him'

·Contributor

16 October 2019 at 11:25 am

Honoree and actor Michael Douglas, right, poses with his son actor Cameron Douglas following a ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) — Michael Douglas, right, poses with his son actor Cameron Douglas following a ceremony honouring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Hollywood legend Michael Douglas, 75, feared his son Cameron's drug problems could've killed him when he was gripped by addiction.

Cameron, now 40, struggled with drug addiction in his younger years as he abused heroin, and at one point was shooting up cocaine almost daily and suffered drug-induced seizures.

By the time he reached his 20s, Cameron was carrying a gun and dealing methamphetamines to fund his addictions, reports PEOPLE.

“I hated the wreckage I saw in my life because of drugs, but I just couldn’t stop,” Cameron told the publication.

Michael and Cameron's mother Diandra were left feeling helpless as they tried in vain to get their son the help he needed.

He shared: “There were moments when hope dwindled… and then it’s just a train out of the station. Life became a series of crises. I thought I was going to lose him."

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 25: Actors Michael Douglas and Cameron Douglas attend the premiere of Disney and Marvel's 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' at El Capitan Theatre on June 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) — Actors Michael Douglas and Cameron Douglas attend the premiere of Disney and Marvel's 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' at El Capitan Theatre on June 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Discussing the consequences of addiction, Cameron said the outcome could’ve either seen him dead or sent to prison.

"It’s the sneaky power, the stranglehold that addiction has when you’re in the throes of it. When you get that far down the rabbit hole, there are a couple options: there’s prison and then there’s death,” he said.

Cameron was given five-year term in 2009 for conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine, but ultimately ended up serving eight years after his sentence was extended for possession while incarcerated.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Michael Douglas, Viviane Thibes and Cameron Douglas attend the Gala Screening of "The Kominsky Method" at AFI FEST 2018 Presented By Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 10, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for AFI) — Michael Douglas, Viviane Thibes and Cameron Douglas attend the Gala Screening of "The Kominsky Method" at AFI FEST 2018 on November 10, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for AFI)

Since leaving prison in 2016, Cameron has gone on to start a family with girlfriend Viviane Thiebes with whom he shares daughter Lua and is now working on reviving his acting career.

He's previously appeared in the films Mr. Nice Guy, National Lampoon's Adam & Eve, Loaded as well as It Runs In The Family alongside Michael, his grandfather Kirk Douglas and grandmother Diana Dill.

Michael is currently married to Catherine Zeta-Jones who at 50 years old is 25 years his junior. He recently opened up about "feeling good" about having a younger bride and enjoying their age gap.