"Love Island" star Austin Shepard has been open about his addiction struggles in the past ... but not like this. The reality star says he's lost friends to the disease and didn't want to follow in their footsteps. Austin told TMZ's "Previously On..." podcast, "I know how this road goes. I've got plenty of friends that are not here today that have sadly passed from it. It's either death or a long life of misery." Thankfully, Austin had a moment of clarity while filming 'Beyond the Villa' in L.A.