Six months before Ryan Edwards was arrested for theft of services and charged with heroin possession from an outstanding warrant, the Teen Mom OG alum opened up about his drug addiction battle.
“I will never stop speaking out against this horrible disease! It consumes your life and turns you into someone even you don’t know,” Edwards, 31, wrote on Instagram July 20, which is the most recent photo shared on his account.
Alongside his candid caption, Edwards posted an image of multiple people with their hands raised and overlying text that reads, “Life can take you higher than drugs. Stop drug abuse. Live life.”
“I’m asking you to never give up. Each day is a struggle,” the MTV star continued his caption.
He admitted, “I’ve made mistakes and I have really messed up in the past but there is so much hope ahead and it doesn’t mean I can’t change the future.”
The father of two — he shares son Jagger, 3 months, with wife Mackenzieand 10-year-old son Bentley with his ex, Teen Mom OG star Maci Bookout — then encouraged those who also struggle with substance abuse to seek help.
“If you or someone you know needs help, please don’t hesitate to go SAMHSA.gov. Help is out there,” wrote Edwards, who said at the time that he was “active in my recovery.”
Months prior to his post, Edwards was arrested in March 2018 for violating terms of his probation stemming from his previous heroin possession charge. In July, he was arrested once again over the charge.
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He has long battled substance abuse and completed his most recent stint in rehab at the end of 2018.
On Wednesday, more than half a year after he addressed his own struggle with drugs, he was taken into custody in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Edwards was charged with theft of services, according to inmate information for the Hamilton County Jail.
Though his bond for the theft charge was set at $500, Edwards was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. According to Radar Online, that refers to his previous heroin possession charge in Red Bank, Tennessee, and he is being held on no bond due to an outstanding warrant over the drug charge.
The outlet reports that his Red Bank County court date is set for Jan. 28. His Hamilton County court date is set for Feb. 6, according to inmate information for the Hamilton County Jail.
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Citing police documents, TMZ reports that Edwards allegedly walked out of a bar without pay his $36 bill last month, and the bartender called police. The bartender reportedly recognized Edwards from his previous mugshots, prompting his arrest Wednesday.
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