Demi Lovatois mourning the death of her friend who struggled with addiction.
On Wednesday, the “Sober” songstress, 27, revealed on her Instagram Stories that her friend Thomas had passed away on Tuesday night, following a battle with addiction.
“Devastated. Please hold your loved ones tight. Tell them they are special and that you love them,” she wrote underneath a black-and-white photo of Thomas. “Make sure they know it. RIP to my boo @sirtruss 🖤🖤🖤.”
Though she was heartbroken over the loss, Lovato — whohas battled addiction herself— urged her followers in a second post to get help if they or someone they know is currently struggling with substance abuse.
“Addiction is NO joke,” she wrote alongside another photo of Thomas. “heaven gained this beautiful angel last night because of that terrible disease. I’m crushed and will always miss you @sirtruss. If you or someone you know is struggling please know it’s okay to ask for help.”
Demi Lovato/Instagram
Thomas’ death is bound to hit hard for Lovato, as her own battle with addiction led to anear-fatal overdosein July 2018.
The entertainer, who has alsostruggled with mental illness and disordered eatingfor years, firstbroke her silenceafter her overdose in Aug. 2018, sharing an update on her health and discussing her ongoing battle in a statement on social media.
“I have always been transparent about my journey with addiction. What I’ve learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet,” Lovato wrote.
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The singer remained in a treatment facility until November 2018, when shechecked outand then began splitting time between hermom Dianna De La Garza’s homeand a sober living facility.
In February, a source close to the singer told PEOPLE exclusively that Lovato chose tocheck into another treatment facility on her ownto continue working on her health.
“She has not relapsed since she overdosed. She did recently go to a facility, but it was her own decision,” said the source. “It was one trip to a treatment facility for a few weeks outside of Los Angeles.”
Since then, Lovato has continued to focus on her mental and physical well-being, which includesworking out,returning to the studio to make music, and relying on herstrong support system of friends and family.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Asource told PEOPLEin July that Lovato was “very focused on staying healthy” as she works on her upcoming record, which will be her seventh studio album and first since 2017.
“Demi is very close to her family,” the source continued. “She often stays at her mom’s. She attended [sister Madison’s] high school graduation in June. Spending time with her family always seems very important to her.”
“[She] is surrounding herself with a small group of friends,” the source added. “You can tell that everyone is very protective of her.”
The singer also recently got back out on the market andbegan a new romance withformerBachelorettecontestantMike Johnson.
If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
