Sometimes the biggest wake-up call is realizing you’re becoming someone you don’t recognize anymore. This is about Noah Centineo. The 30-year-old actor has been open about his struggles with substance use before, but now he has opened up more about the moment that made him realize things could take a much darker turn.
Noah Centineo reflects on his substance abuse journey and the destructive patterns that led him to seek sobriety
Centineo shared about his substance abuse journey during the Aug 17 episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. Looking back, he told Josh Horowitz that he was lucky to recognize the destructive patterns in his life before his drug use became even worse.
“I think I’m at a crossroads. I think if I don’t figure this out and stop now, it’s going to get way worse,” Centineo recalled telling himself. He now believes that decision was the right one.
Centineo said his family’s support and access to resources helped him recognize when things were going wrong. He also acknowledged his privilege and said, “It was difficult for me, and it was my experience, and I’m still reckoning with that in my own ways in my own life. [It is] quite privileged … that I can even identify it.”
His substance use began around the time he landed his role as Jesus Foster on Freeform’s “The Fosters.” Before joining the show, Centineo described himself as a Valley kid who spent time with friends, smoked marijuana and partied. But he had not started using harder drugs. That changed when he was around 18 and dating someone older who was already using drugs. Centineo said he began experimenting partly because he wanted to fit into that lifestyle. Landing “The Fosters” also gave him a sense of financial comfort that made it easier to continue.
Then came a moment that frightened him.
Centineo recalled, “By the time I turned 21, I woke up one morning, and there was a different guy looking outside of my head than the day before, and that scared me.”
Since quitting drinking, the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” star has remained busy with movies and TV projects. He said he tries to stay focused and disciplined while working because he takes his responsibilities on set seriously.
The actor first revealed that he was sober in 2018, shortly after turning 21. However, by 2020, he admitted to taking drugs. For now, Centineo says he is “back on the wagon” and expects to stay there for some time.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance use, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a free, confidential, 24/7 helpline at 1-800-662-4357, as well as local treatment referral services.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NOAH’S HONEST REFLECTION ON HIS SOBRIETY JOURNEY?
