Former hell raiser Christian Slater understands the plight of troubled stars like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan - because the pressures of fame threw him into a downward spiral of destruction.

The True Romance actor's own battle with substance abuse has been well-publicized as his drunken antics led to him being jailed in 1997 after being accused of assaulting his then girlfriend, Michelle Jonas, and several police officers. And although the 38-year-old has been clean for a number of years, he maintains sympathy for Hollywood's young celebrities who are struggling to beat their addictions.

He tells British magazine Closer, "It's a confusing world, living in that sort of goldfish bowl with everyone watching your latest move. There's a lot of pressure, and my heart goes out to those girls. Fame looks great, but it can be dangerous. And you never know who to trust."

"The need to escape in some way unfortunately tends to lean towards drugs, alcohol and nightclubs, and it inevitably becomes destructive."

-Check out Christian Slater's Biography

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)