Famous and Alone: Former Child Star Reveals the Dark Side of Fame

Substance use can be an overwhelming problem to face and overcome for an adult. As an adolescent and young adult, the weight of the challenge may seem insurmountable. But for Isaak Presley, there was a moment of realization that any struggle would be worth freeing himself from the pain of substance use.

Growing Up in the Spotlight

Isaak Presley is well-known for his roles in Disney’s “Stuck in the Middle,” the Netflix series “Fuller House,” and Amazon Prime’s “One Nation Under God,” for which he received multiple Best Actor awards. 

At just 22, Isaak is already an industry veteran, having begun his career at the age of 5 with his first TV role in Nickelodeon’s “Yo Gabba Gabba.” 

Growing up in a challenging environment where expressing emotions was discouraged, Isaak was thrust into adult responsibilities early on to help support his family. Unfortunately, this led him to turn to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms during his early teens. 

His substance use intensified during the pandemic, when isolation provided ample opportunity to indulge. However, following a small charge in early 2023, Isaak had a moment of clarity that prompted him to seek change. 

Finding Healing and Purpose

In American Addiction Centers’ 57th episode of Addiction Talk, Joy Sutton spoke to Presley about his experiences and what led him to where he is today.

When asked about why he chose to share his story, Presley explained, “I think we as people have an opportunity to help one another on a day-to-day basis, and the worst thing that we can do to other humans is withhold information and withhold wisdom.”

Continuing, he shared “…there’s many nights of connecting with other people and realizing that there is a sense of security in knowing that you’re not the only one that’s dealt with the things you’ve dealt with.”

As the conversation continued, Presley remarked, “Healing isn’t linear. You know, there’s days that are bad and there’s days that are good, and there’s some wounds that cut deeper than others…I wouldn’t say I’ve achieved like full healing…but there’s a part of me that every time I talk about it I take away the power that it’s had over me in the past.”

From Darkness Toward Light

In American Addiction Centers’ 57th episode of Addiction Talk, Isaak Presley opens up about his struggles with substance use and the impact it has had on his life. Listen to his story to hear about his strength and wisdom as he opens up about the complexities of child stardom, trauma, addiction, and his inspiring journey toward recovery.