(U-WIRE) PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Former child star Jodie Sweetin spoke to Wisconsin students last week to talk about the effects of her methamphetamine addiction.
Students may recognize Sweetin from the hit TV show “Full House” where she played the character of Stephanie Tanner for eight years.
“We grew up with her and ‘Full House.’ She is a recognizable face to students,” said Hanah Diebold, Campus Programming and Relations event manager.
Methamphetamine is becoming a serious drug problem throughout the U.S., and Sweetin’s experiences touched some students who attended.
“It made me think of family and friends and people I know who are addicted or may be someday,” Kimberely Schnell, senior animal science major, said.
“The meaning of her story was important for students to hear,” Diebold said. “A lot of students can relate to her or have friends that can relate to her.”
Sweetin began her presentation by talking about her childhood and her time on the set of Full House.
After the show’s cancellation in 1995, Sweetin returned to high school. She was no longer in the spotlight of the camera. She felt a void in her life and turned to drugs to fill it.
Sweetin said she was ridiculed by schoolmates and couldn’t break the image of Stephanie. There was something missing and she felt like she couldn’t fit in.
After a rough journey, Sweetin sobered up for two and a half years only to hear the little voice in the back of her mind tell her that she still had yet to fit in.
Sweetin then began experimenting with harder drugs, hiding this from her former husband, friends and family. This problem continued until a night out with friends ended with her being admitted to the hospital and going through rehab.
“We just want students to know that life gets rough sometimes but things will get better and there is help available,” Diebold said.
Sweetin now travels around and shares her story with college students. She hopes her experiences will help someone else who may be dealing with an addiction.