At the young age of 13, Cameron Douglas’ struggles with drug addiction began as he started using marijuana.
This later lead to cocaine use by the age of 15. He told “Tucker Carlson Tonight”, “I felt lonely, uncomfortable in my own skin, and it sort of soothed that for me and it allowed a connection to a peer group.” In his memoir, “Long Way Home”, he says he was influenced by his father and grandfather to use casual drugs. Cameron says he felt pressure to live up to his family’s legacy; both his father and his grandfather, Kirk Douglas, are Academy Award winners and Cameron is an actor himself. In order to cope with this pressure, Douglas turned to drugs.
Cameron Douglas’ Addiction Breaking Point
As the years went on, Cameron was using cocaine and heroin regularly. He also ended up in prison in 2010 for selling crystal meth. He served an almost 8-year sentence and in 2016, was released and transferred to a halfway house in New York City.During his last stint in prison where he was in solitary confinement, Douglas says, “At that point, I knew I had two paths left open to me, and one path I probably would not have made it back from. The other one gave me some purpose…to put myself in the best possible position once I was released from prison to make a life for myself.” Since this time, Cameron Douglas has turned his life around. He has been pursuing a career in acting, has a daughter, and a great relationship with his family.
On what piece of advice he would share with people struggling with addiction, Cameron says, “you have to do everything in your power to show how much you love them” and you have to encourage them to seek professional help.
Cameron Douglas’ addiction and recovery is a good example of how people can turn their lives around after falling to drug and alcohol. If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance abuse problem, there is hope. At Banyan Treatment Centers, we know that recovery is possible, and you do not need to do it alone. Our residential addiction treatment programs can offer 24 hours of support for those who need it. For those requiring less guidance, an outpatient program for addiction may be a better option.
Take the first step to your journey to sobriety and call today: 888-966-9413
Alyssa, Director of Digital Marketing
Alyssa is the National Director of Digital Marketing and is responsible for a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. All articles have been written by Alyssa and medically reviewed by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne.
