Chet Hanks pictured with his father Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks' son bravely reveals his battle with drug addiction


UPDATED FEBRUARY 6, 2019 8:04 AM EST
Chet Hanks pictured with his father Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's 24-year-old son Chet hasrevealed he has been battling a long term addiction to drugs. He made theannouncement via a video on his Instagram account after a tabloid was going to revealhis struggle.

"I've been struggling withsubstance abuse since I was 16 years old, finally at the age of 24 I decided toget some help,” he wrote in a caption.

"With 50 days of sobriety under my belt, I canhonestly say I'm the happiest I've ever been. I'm thankful for my familyand everyone who cares about me, including my fans."

Chet went on to thank programs that have helped him with his addiction.

"I'vebeen blessed with the programs of AA and NA which allow me to rise above thisdisease. I'm learning to accept my faults and be ok with being human. If anybody that sees this struggles withaddiction, feel free to reach out. Thank you for all the love andsupport. God is real!!!"

"A tabloid is about to run a pieceon me being in rehab for cocaine addiction," Chet stated in the clip that accompanied the caption. "It's true and I'm currently 50 daysclean and sober from everything — including alcohol."

Chet — who raps under the stage name Chet Hazeand has 16,000 Instagram followers — is one of Tom’s four children. Tom also has 18-year-old son, Truman, withRita and is dad to 37-year-old son Colin and 32-year-old daughter Elizabethfrom his marriage to Samantha Lewes.