It may seem as though Ryan Edwards took swift and decisive action upon realizing he was struggling with drug abuse.
Edwards checked into rehab over the weekend in order to seek treatment for unspecified substance-related disorders, shortly after his is addiction became a frequent subject of discussion amongst fans, as well as on Teen Mom: OG.
In one memorable scene, Maci Bookout discussed Ryan’s addiction with friends, eventually breaking down in tears and revealing that she fears for his life.
Edwards deserves credit for seeking out the help he needs, particularly as he checked into an in-patient facility just weeks after marrying Mackenzie Standifer.
But the editing of the show and the speed with the issue seemed to be resolved may have given some viewers a false impression of just how long Edwards has been wrestling with this problem.
Ryan’s ex, Dalis Connell, who appeared on Teen Mom during her two year relationship, is now claiming that she first noticed his affinity for powerful prescription painkillers while they were dating.
“One of his friends was on pills and he tried it one night when we first started dating,” Connell told Radar Online in a recent interview.
“He started taking those while I was in class. I ran track in college and would be gone all day and he was bored.”
“I have never been around drugs use so I didn’t know the symptoms,” she continued.
“I was working and my co-worker asked if Ryan takes anything. She was like, ‘I went to rehab and he fidgets and scratches and has all the signs of someone using.’ I didn’t believe her.”
Eventually, Connell says, she recognized the severity of the problem and convinced Edwards to seek treatment.
He agreed to an outpatient rehab program in December of 2012, but only lasted one week before relapsing.
“He wasn’t interested in rehab,” she said.
“We had to drag him there the first time. He never said he wanted to get better, he just wanted the withdrawals to stop.”
Thankfully, these days, it looks as though Ryan is taking his treatment more seriously.
We wish Edwards and his family all the best.
Watch Teen Mom online to relive the rocky road that brought him to this point.