Max Ehrich, the actor best known as Demi Lovato’s ex-fiancé, was arrested August 25 at a Florida shopping center for possession of nitrous oxide. According to police, officers found the 35-year-old in bushes with a large canister labeled“Max Cream Charger”and said he appeared dazed and unsteady. Ehrich had called 911 himself but hung up, and he told officers he wanted to get medicine from his parents’home but felt uncomfortable going there.
His parents told authorities he is addicted to nitrous oxide. Ehrich was taken to a hospital before being booked into jail and later released after posting bond. The arrest follows a previous one in October 2025, when he was charged with domestic violence against his mother, Rhonda Ehrich, who at the time said her son was in rehab and blamed a“dangerous substance”for his behavior.
The story lands at the intersection of celebrity gossip and a much bigger conversation about substance abuse, which experts say has only grown more urgent. Demi Lovato has also spoken publicly about their past relationship with Ehrich, saying the hardest part of the breakup was“mourning the person that I thought he was.”
What do you think: does the media handle celebrity addiction stories responsibly, or does the gossip drown out the real issue?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.