Struggles of an Iconic 90s Child Star: Alcohol at 14, Meth Addiction, and Four Marriages

 

At the tender age of five, Jodie Sweetin was chosen to portray the extroverted, sharp-witted, and often inquisitive Stephanie Tanner in the popular series Full House.

While her early foray into acting began with television adverts, Jodie’s portrayal in the acclaimed ABC sitcom, which aired from 1987 to 1995, catapulted her into the spotlight and remains the role she’s most associated with to this day. However, the former child star, now fully grown and bearing little resemblance to her character as the middle child, faced challenging times after the show concluded.

Much like many young stars thrust into fame at an early age, Jodie grappled with adapting and swiftly found herself losing control of her life as she descended into heavy drinking. She took a hiatus from acting for several years, during which she confronted a severe drug addiction and experienced a tumultuous romantic life that culminated in three divorces.

Jodie recounted how her struggles with substance abuse commenced when she consumed “two bottles of wine” at her co-star Candace Cameron Bure’s wedding at the age of just 14. “That initial drink granted me the self-assurance I had been seeking my entire life, but it established the pattern of the kind of drinking that I would engage in,” she penned in her 2009 memoir, *UnSweetined*.

Before long, Jodie found herself entangled in the grip of substance abuse. During her high school years, she turned to ecstasy, a habit that persisted into college. This eventually escalated to cocaine use, leading to a tumultuous cycle of rehabilitation stints throughout her teens and twenties. Merely a few years after marrying police officer Shaun Golguin in 2002, Jodie was introduced to methamphetamine, a fateful encounter that swiftly ensnared her.

Reflecting on the depths of her addiction, she candidly shared with People in 2008: “My entire existence revolved around my dependency. A typical day would begin with a profound sense of misery due to not having indulged. You’re either chasing it, indulging, or consumed with thoughts of when you can get your next fix. It’s astonishing how swiftly it takes control without you even realising.”

Jodie experienced a drastic weight drop to a mere 100lbs. Her husband remained oblivious to the cause until a night of intense partying in 2005 led to her hospitalization. It was then that she finally disclosed her struggle with drug addiction to her family. She admitted herself into an in-patient treatment centre, subsequently transitioning to a sober living house. However, the trust issues stemming from her drug problem ultimately strained her marriage, resulting in divorce.

Amidst her recovery journey, Jodie hosted Fuse’s Pants-Off Dance-Off, where she crossed paths with her second husband, Cody Herpin, in 2007. At the time, he was employed as a driver and transportation coordinator on film sets. Remarkably, the couple exchanged vows a mere two months after their initial meeting and joyfully welcomed their daughter, Zoie, into the world in April 2008.

Their once-happy union was brief, and in November 2008, Jodie initiated legal proceedings for separation. Amidst a heated custody dispute over her daughter, Jodie confessed to a resurgence in substance use.

In her memoir of 2009, she recounted hitting “rock bottom,” admitting to consuming two glasses of wine and driving with her infant daughter in the car. However, receiving a call from the court notifying her of an urgent custody investigation linked to her drinking served as a catalyst for Jodie to embark on her journey towards sobriety, a milestone she achieved on December 7, 2008.

She penned, “From that day onward, I devoted myself to attending [Alcoholics Anonymous] and steered clear of people who engage in such behaviour. … Life is good. I’m happier than I can remember.” By 2010, Jodie welcomed her second daughter, Beatrix, with her then-partner Morty Coyle, a musician and DJ.

The couple exchanged vows in 2012, keeping their nuptials a secret for a year, but later filed for legal separation in June 2013. Following the split, Jodie was involved in a car accident and was prescribed pain medication, which, she revealed, led to a relapse.

Jodie managed to re-enter recovery and returned to education to train as a drug and alcohol counsellor. In the meantime, she delved back into acting, making appearances in several TV movies before reprising her role as Stephanie Tanner in Netflix’s Fuller House, a spin-off of the original sitcom.

Jodie also featured on Dancing With the Stars in 2016, finishing in sixth place. In the same year, she became engaged to Justin Hodak, but her tumultuous romantic life continued when they parted ways a year later.

Following their breakup, he faced multiple arrests for possessing a firearm in his home as a convicted felon and for trespassing at Jodie’s residence while she had a restraining order against him. In 2017, he was sentenced to over six years in prison after pleading “no contest” to charges of tampering with evidence by threatening a witness and possessing a deadly weapon.

Despite the challenges she has encountered, Jodie has remained focused on her sobriety and has been candid about her journey in an effort to help “destigmatise” addiction. She shared with the Allison Interviews in 2021: “I’m always very honest too. For me, medication has been key. Otherwise, I struggle with stuff where I’m not getting out of bed…and that’s not how I want to live my life. And now that I know when I need to speak up for myself, I’ve done that.”

In 2022, she entered matrimony for the fourth time after rekindling a romance with addiction therapist, Mescal Wasilewski, whom she began dating in 2017. Jodie spoke to People about their relationship, saying, “We complement each other so well, he’s witty and intelligent, and he’s my biggest supporter. It’s truly magical.”