Jodie Sweetin Reflects on Life After ‘Full House’ and Her Experience Working in a Treatment Facility
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/jodie-sweetin-full-house-070126-9211eb8e6c3a455b815c03bb47c1621e.jpg)
Jodie Sweetin, best known for her portrayal of Stephanie Tanner on the hit television series ‘Full House’, has opened up about her life after the beloved show concluded in 1995 and prior to the return of the series on Netflix with ‘Fuller House’. In a candid interview on the podcast ‘Taboo’s Comics & Kicks’, Sweetin shared her unique experiences of working at a treatment facility and the challenges that came along with it.
After finding herself in a difficult position following her stint on ‘Full House’, Sweetin took the job at a treatment facility as a means to support herself and her two children. She explained that this decision came after facing financial struggles and going through a divorce, a situation that forced her to embrace a more modest lifestyle. “I was making, you know, $2,200 a month trying to pay for everything with two kids,” she revealed, highlighting the reality of her financial constraints.
Sweetin recounted the responses she encountered from patients who recognised her from the iconic sitcom. While she felt comfortable in her role, the surprise expressed by those in treatment did not go unnoticed. “When people are detoxing and all of a sudden they’re like dozing off, ‘Are you the girl from Full House?'” she recalled, noting the peculiar contrast between her past as a child star and her present circumstances. Despite the surprising encounters, her focus remained on her responsibilities. “I was like, ‘Working and paying my bills,’ you know… I don’t care. I’m just here to be a functioning human,” she explained.
Reflecting on these experiences, Sweetin shared that adjusting to a “normal job” offered her a new perspective on life and happiness. She candidly admitted that her previous financial success as a child actor did not equate to her current contentment. “I was living a very normal life,” she said, emphasising the importance of finding joy in any situation. “It didn’t matter what I had or what I was doing, if I could just genuinely enjoy wherever it was that I was, I’d be fine.”
In previous interviews, Sweetin has also opened up about her struggles with substance abuse. She recalled her first experience with alcohol, which occurred at the wedding of her former co-star Candace Cameron Bure when she was just 14. “Well, the first time I ever drank, I was like 14… and it was at Candace’s wedding,” Sweetin shared during a 2025 episode of the ‘Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show’ podcast. Her early experiences with drinking eventually escalated to significant challenges as she admitted to being a “blackout drinker.”
By the age of 15, Sweetin recognised that her relationship with alcohol and partying was different from those of her peers, which marked the beginning of her struggles with addiction. Over the years, she has faced the ups and downs of sobriety, experiencing relapses and subsequent recoveries. Sweetin’s journey has served as a testament to her resilience, culminating in her return to screens as part of the ‘Fuller House’ revival from 2016 to 2020.
Now, Sweetin’s narrative offers insight not only into her life as a former child star but also into the broader themes of struggle, recovery, and resilience. She has since transitioned to roles that embrace her personal experiences, including co-hosting the rewatch podcast ‘How Rude, Tanneritos!’ with her co-star Andrea Barber, allowing her to reconnect with her fan base while reflecting on her past.
As Sweetin continues to navigate her life beyond her childhood fame, her reflections are a reminder of the complexities faced by many former child actors. Her honesty about the challenges of maintaining stability and the importance of self-acceptance resonates with her audience, illustrating that growth is possible even after facing significant adversity.
Jodie Sweetin’s story serves not just as a revisionist look at the ‘Full House’ legacy but also as an inspiration for many who deal with similar struggles in their lives. Her willingness to share both her triumphs and tribulations paints a picture of resilience in the face of hardship, encouraging others to embrace their journeys with honesty and hope.