“Full House” star to share story of overcoming addiction

Jodie Sweetin, the former child star of the hit sitcom “Full House,” will share her story of overcoming addiction when she visits Salve Regina on Friday, Jan. 29.

Sweetin will speak to members of the University community at 8 p.m. in the Rodgers Recreation Center gymnasium. Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board’s spotlight committee, her appearance will also include a photo and autograph session along with a raffle of her memoir “unSweetined.”

Best known as Stephanie Tanner, the sweet-as-pie middle sister from “Full House,” Sweetin has lived a life far darker than her TV personality, and has emerged triumphant over the grip of drug and alcohol addiction, now devoted to sharing her story to help others afflicted by similar pains.

Sweetin was cast as Tanner in 1987 at age 5 and starred in the show until it ended in 1995. The same year, she entered high school and experienced her first brush with alcohol abuse. A strong student, she went on to earn an academic scholarship to Chapman University, where her hard-partying ways earned her a 0.9 GPA, staunching her scholarship. Focused on recovery, she returned to her parents’ house to gain traction of her life, only to find herself dependent on methamphetamine at age 22, leading to a long and devastating battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

In 2009, she wrote “unSweetined,” a deeply personal memoir chronicling her downward spiral of substance abuse and discussing how becoming a mother gave her the determination and courage to get sober. This year, Sweetin will reprise her role as Stephanie Tanner alongside her “Full House” costars in the Netflix original series “Fuller House.”