Artie Lange on his 2010 attempted suicide: "What was going through my mind was sheer hell. I couldn't do it anymore"

With a brand new book – entitled "Crash and Burn" – debuting on "The New York Times'" best-seller list, and a history of wild television moments, guest Artie Lange was certain to bring his trademark brand of entertainment and enthusiasm when he took his seat directly across from Piers Morgan in the host's New York City studio. And as part of a live interview, Howard Stern's longtime radio wing man did not disappoint, specifically when sharing details of his past drug abuse and suicide attempt:

"What was going through my mind was sheer hell. I couldn't do it anymore. I was high and running out of drugs and I couldn't take another trip to Spanish Harlem to cop. I couldn't do it anymore," Lange revealed on Tuesday's episode of "Piers Morgan Live." "I said 'I can't keep leading this life,' and at the point I saw no way out. I saw no way out."

In 2010, a then-42-year-old Lange used a 13-inch kitchen knife to stab himself in the stomach nine times, eventually falling to the floor in his home. It was the comedian's mother who found him, rushing him to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Nearly four years later, Lange lives with the remorse of thrusting his mother into such a painful experience:

"I still do," the guest revealed to the "Piers Morgan Live" host, referencing his ever-present guilt. "She wasn't supposed to come over that day. It was sheer fate because stuff had gotten so bad I agreed to give her a key to my place, in case something happened, just to stop her from yelling I said 'okay, take it, whatever.'"

Lange's drug habit had gotten to such a point that his family was planning an intervention, and his mom's rescue served only to solidify the severity of the problem:

"I wasn't going to have a choice in the matter. They were going to drag me away, they had friends of mine, and stuff, and family and, they just happened to stop by that day and found me. I mean, the guilt of passing out with her saying 'stay with me, don't close your eyes, I'm calling 911,' I'll never get over that, ever," he admitted. "Thank God she's okay and better and doing okay and now we're going through a happy time but no, I'll never get over that guilt ever in my life."

Watch the clip for more of Morgan's interview with Lange, and for the next edition of "Piers Morgan Live," watch CNN every night at 9.
-
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Twitter
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Instagram