Full House star battle drug problem

Rollergirl2001 · #1 02-02-2006, 05:43 PM

From Yahoo! News from E! Online:
Former Full House cutie Jodie Sweetin has earned herself a spot on the lengthy list of child stars gone wrong.

During an appearance on Good Morning America Wednesday, Sweetin, who played middle sister Stephanie Tanner on the hit sitcom, revealed that she is a recovering meth addict and once battled a daily drug habit.

The ex-actress, 24, said she had trouble figuring out how to adjust to a regular childhood existence after Full House ended its run in 1995.

"There is a certain sense of loss when a series ends," Sweetin said. "It is kind of hard to figure out who you are when you've lost your job at age 13, when that was basically how you identified yourself."

In an attempt to lead a "normal" kid's life, Sweetin attended high school and college, graduating with a degree in liberal arts. In 2002, she married a Los Angeles police officer.

Though she occasionally appeared in bit parts on TV series, including Party of Five and Yes, Dear, Sweetin's acting career essentially stalled after Full House. Two years ago, bored and unemployed, the former child star began experimenting with drugs as a way to pass the time.

She was soon addicted to methamphetamine and using the debilitating drug every day.

Though Sweetin stops short of blaming her addiction on her child-star lifestyle, she concedes that her career may have stripped her of some of the benefits of a typical childhood.

"Growing up in the business you have to grow up very fast--you do have a different type of childhood, that has its benefits and it has its drawbacks," Sweetin said Wednesday.

After a particularly bad three-day bender, which reportedly resulted in an intervention staged by her former Full House costars, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, John Stamos and Bob Saget, Sweetin checked herself into Promises rehab facility for six weeks of intensive therapy.

Clean and sober since March of last year, Sweetin now admits she was "living a total double life."

"I was married to a police officer--we are going through a divorce right now--he had no idea," she said.

Since kicking her addiction, Sweetin says she now hopes to get back into acting.

"I want to make movies, TV series, wherever the career takes me," she said. "I really hope this isn't the last people hear of me. In fact, I would like to make this a footnote in my career, not the end."

This is very sad and shocking. I like Stephanie. I'm praying for her.

smiley21 · #2 02-03-2006, 07:48 AM

I would not have guessed it was Stephanie. Before I read the story, I thought it was going to be Joey. I hope all goes well for her. This is very unexpected! I remember reading a story about her and she was saying that DJ and Kimmy were the bridesmaids in her wedding.
You know what is really cool? When Mary Kate was going through her issues, the Full House gang was by her side. Now they are there for Jodie. It is very obvious that they are still so close.

Xylochick216 · #3 02-03-2006, 10:30 AM

This doesn't surprise me. One of my husband's good friends went to college with her and lived in her dorm. He had a lot of shady pictures of her doing drugs and drinking excessively. Rumor had it she slept with most of the guys in the building, too, while on her binges. It's really sad. I'm glad she got help.

BobbyTheDon · #4 02-03-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xylochick216
This doesn't surprise me. One of my husband's good friends went to college with her and lived in her dorm. He had a lot of shady pictures of her doing drugs and drinking excessively. Rumor had it she slept with most of the guys in the building, too, while on her binges. It's really sad. I'm glad she got help.

You know someone who went to Chapman? I thought only people from Orange County went there.

Yeah. Doesn't surprise me as well. I saw her a few times at some Pike parties there. She was wild. It was awesome

Xylochick216 · #5 02-03-2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BobbyTheDon
You know someone who went to Chapman? I thought only people from Orange County went there.

Yeah. Doesn't surprise me as well. I saw her a few times at some Pike parties there. She was wild. It was awesome

Yeah, he wanted to get the heck out of Virginia. He had a good time, but I don't know if he graduated or not. I haven't seen him in about 2-3 years.

Munchkin03 · #6 02-04-2006, 12:32 AM

Wha...the OLSEN TWINS were at someone's intervention? Were they like...Jodie, why are you using such a redneck drug? Try coke!!!1!

KSigkid · #7 02-04-2006, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Wha...the OLSEN TWINS were at someone's intervention? Were they like...Jodie, why are you using such a redneck drug? Try coke!!!1!

Seriously - it would be like having Billy Joel as your AA counselor.

UKDaisy · #8 02-04-2006, 01:55 AM

How come this doesn't surprise me at all?

AOIIalum · #9 02-04-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
Seriously - it would be like having Billy Joel as your AA counselor.

I'm sorry, but that's got to be the single funniest line ever on GC.

Buttonz · #10 02-05-2006, 04:09 AM

Sad, but I'm glad she got the help. It's nice that the Full House gang is still thier for each other....gah, I miss the show!

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #11 02-05-2006, 07:56 PM

Is it just me or is it interesting that she says pinning everything *on her career* is what drove her to drugs, and now that's she's clean, she's pinning everything *on her career*?

#12 02-08-2006, 05:30 PM

i was surprised to see the previews for today's larry king live show... he will be interviewing her and taking phone calls