Michael Douglas: Prison Will Save My Son

Actor says troubled son is clean for first time in adult life

Prison could do Cameron Douglas good after a lifetime of drug abuse, his famous father Michael Douglas told the "Today" show.

The younger Douglas, who was recently sentenced to five years in prison of drug charges, could now finally get clean, the 65-year-old actor said. Cameron Douglas has already been in prison for over a year while awaiting sentencing, which came last month.

"My son has not been sober for this length of time since he was 13 years old," Douglas said airing Monday. "So he was going to be dead or somebody was gonna kill him, and I think he has a chance to start a new life and he knows that. And from my understanding, it's going to take that amount of time for him to rebuild and start himself afresh."

Douglas, 31, was arrested last year for conspiring to deal methamphetamine and possession of heroin.

The Oscar-winning father has battled his own demons and says he wasn't always a good father. Now married to Catherine Zeta-Jones, with whom has two young children, Douglas says he's a better dad.

"I've taken blame about being a bad father – if being a bad father is working your butt off trying to create a career at one time," he said. "When I had Cameron I was early in my career and as opposed to most jobs, making movies takes you all around the world, so you were absentee in that sense."

But Douglas now hopes he can reconnect with his older son as he serves his time.

"He's a great young man," the elder Douglas adds. "And I wouldn't be supporting him if I didn't feel that way."

 

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