Long way home

Author: Cameron Douglas 
 
When your family name is Douglas it doesn’t necessarily open doors for you. Sometimes it can close them and close them hard. When your name is Douglas, it doesn’t mean that you automatically will get a great life or deserve one. What it does mean, is that you need to work harder for what you want out of life.
 
Cameron is the oldest son of Michael Douglas, Oscar winning actor. Cameron is also the grandson of legendary actor Kirk Douglas. Living up to the morals and achievements of these two great men could be a difficult role for him but he makes no apologies for the life he has led. He says that he expects no sympathy from anyone for the way his life has manifested. 
Cameron`s incredible memoir, while sharing horrific details of how his drug dependency and bad behaviour , also continually refers back to the family that he is clearly very proud of. When he was arrested in 2009 family played a crucial role in his decision to “go out of the back way” as opposed to “kicking and screaming out the front”.
 
Cameron shares his life story with a raw and honest approach that is refreshing to see given the subject matter. Cameron said in an interview that he completely understood why his father encouraged him to write. Cameron goes onto say ”it was his way of telling me how much he loves me and that I had a story to tell, no matter what the outcome may be for his families privacy.”
 
Cameron’s story begins in 2004, drifting between his life moving forward and memories of the past. His uncle Eric died of a drug overdose and Cameron seemed to be destined to head down the same path.
 
Cameron is not afraid to tackle the difficult subjects such as his crippling liquid cocaine and addiction onto recovery. Cameron also discusses how he was surrounded by wealth and yet often felt neglected by his parents as their lives changed around his behaviours and habits. Cameron freely discusses the benders; where and when he “shot up”; why he shot up; theft that he was part of as well as dealing in drugs and possession. 
 
Cameron charts his years in various prisons and the issues that surround this. Solitary confinement; being terrified that others would use his name against him and smuggling drugs into prison through body cavities. 
 
While the book is raw and honest, with a compelling drama about it, it was completely refreshing to see that a life that had been so compromised was now on the rise. Cameron should be congratulated on his book. It serves not only as Cameron’s personal journal but a cautionary tale of how life can grab you and turn upside down, no matter what your name and background.