Downward Spiral! Friends Fear Artie Lange Could Die After Recent Relapse

Artie Lange has relapsed, and those closest to him are worried he could die, a friend of the comic exclusively claimed to RadarOnline.com.

The 50-year-old funnyman told RadarOnline.com just last month that he was getting better and was weeks sober, but an insider claims Lange is now "in self-destruction mode."

The troubled comic is expected to appear in a drug court on January 30 for a hearing, and the insider admitted Lange is terrified at what could happen.

"He knows he won't survive drug court, so he's going to party as much as much as he can until he gets thrown in jail or a year-long rehab," the insider said, adding, "Even his sponsors from The Retreat know that he's partying even though he's denying it."

The insider also alleged Lange is getting personal deliveries of drugs sent to him at his New Jersey condo.

"Even Richard Lewis reached out to him on Twitter begging him to get clean," the desperate insider revealed. "You know if Artie is tweeting at 4 a.m. he's high."

This wouldn't be the first time the comedian has relapsed. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Lange has been in and out of the hospital several times due to drug related issues.

In November, he broke his probation when he tested positive for drugs the month before.

According to the Essex County Assistant Prosecutor, Tony Gutierrez, “He tested positive twice in October, thus violating his probation.  The first time he tested for cocaine and opioids and the second time it was for cocaine and Oxycodone.”