New year.
Same Lamar Odom.
This is what fans of the former basketball star and ex-husband of Khloe Kardashian now fear.
TMZ has shared a couple photos of Odom from New Year’s Eve, an occasion which he celebrated in the Dominican Republic.
The images depict Odom hanging out in a local hot spot called Club 59, chilling in a sweater and chatting with a woman who witnesses say he kissed at midnight.
That isn’t the issue, of course.
Odom is certainly allowed to smooch and flirt; he’s a single man likely anxious to mingle.
But the photos also capture Odom with a beer in his hand.
You can check them out HERE.
According to TMZ sources, the green bottle Odom has in hand is called Presidente, a Spanish beer featured in breweries around the Dominican Republic.
He was also seen throwing back some tequila shots.
At this point, the star’s substance abuse problem has been well-documented.
It caused him to be suspended by the NBA a few years ago and it’s the main reason his marriage to Khloe fell apart.
In October of 2015, Odom fell unconscious while spending time at a brothel in Nevada, barely clinging to life in a coma for several days.
You would think such an incident would serve as a turning point, but it’s not that easy to overcome one’s addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.
It has appear on multiple instances since then that Lamar recognized his demons and was prepared to get clean and sober… he’s simply been unable to successfully do so.
In early November, for example, Odom collapsed at a night club in Los Angeles.
A spokesperson for the ex-reality star claimed Lamar was simply dehydrated and tired, but almost no one out there bought that excuse.
“Lamar is spiraling again. He’s out of control,” a source subsequently told People Magazine, adding about eight weeks ago:
“He was better this spring, but things got worse over the summer and everyone is worried things are going to get even worse and they’re scared for him.”
Moreover, it’s not hard to understand why Odom might be driven to drink these days.
While he has not spoken out directly on Khloe’s pregnancy, someone close to the situation say Lamar is crushed by the news.
He and Khloe talked openly about having children back during their relationship and it’s easy to see this exciting news not exactly being so exciting for Odom.
It’s easy to see it having the opposite effect, unfortunately.
As always, we wish the very best to Odom, who nearly everyone says is a caring, sensitive, outstanding individual.
He simply has an addiction.
We pray he overcomes it someday.
