Entertainment TV John Stamos Recalls the Harrowing Moment He Knew He Had to 'Straighten Up' amid Alcohol Addiction (Exclusive) The author of 'If You Would Have Told Me', out Oct. 24, exclusively tells PEOPLE: "I had to sober up. I was just drinking too much" By Dory Jackson Dory Jackson Dory Jackson is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE's digital TV team. While at the brand, she's had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She has also helped recap popular TV shows like 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' 'Sister Wives' and 'Vanderpump Rules.' The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus on Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. People Editorial Guidelines Published on October 18, 2023 09:00AM EDT Close John Stamos is pictured while being shot in Malibu on October 2, 2023. Photo: Jeff Lipsky John Stamos' journey with alcohol addiction has been a long one, filled with many highs and lows. But there was one particular moment in his trek that pushed him to actually get clean — and stay that way. In his debut memoir, If You Would Have Told Me, out Oct. 24, the Full House alum details the many low points of his alcohol addiction — and how sobriety has shaped him in the long run. "I had to sober up. I was just drinking too much," Stamos, 60, exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "I just went low. I didn't go high. I just surrounded myself with people I shouldn't have been with." John Stamos Shares Photos from 'Groovy' 60th Birthday Party Featuring Family and Celebrity Friends For Stamos, his headline-making DUI in 2015 proved to be a breaking point in his addiction. "I had that DUI and I was like, 'I can't do this. I've got to straighten up,'" he recalls. "That's when I was confusing the universe because I'm not a bad person, but I was doing crappy things." John Stamos' memoir, 'If You Would Have Told Me', is pictured. Jeff Lipsky Stamos eventually entered rehab, which he admits "was dark for a little bit." But he notes "it started to get better" and later "made a lot of really good friends." "I had a lot waiting for me, and I feel bad because a lot of people don't, because they burned their lives down," he adds. "Luckily, I had my sisters, but I also had Fuller House. I got home and I think like a week later, we started Fuller House." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. John Stamos at the Emmy Awards in September 2015. Rob Latour/Variety/Penske Media/Getty Now, having been sober for some time, the General Hospital alum credits his wife, Caitlin McHugh Stamos, and their 5-year-old son, Billy, for helping to keep him on this path of sobriety and positivity. "They have kept me on this path because going down the road of being sober and taking care of yourself, everybody tries. Everybody does it. You could get going for a little while. Then, it's like, 'I can drink again,'" he says. "So it's staying on the path is what they mostly do for me." John Stamos Says He 'Never Could Have Been a Father' Before Getting Sober (L-R) John Stamos, Billy Stamos and Caitlin McHugh Stamos are pictured. John Stamos/Instagram For more on John Stamos, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday, or subscribe here. As for whether he's experienced any setbacks over the years, Stamos says he's "been pretty good." "It's hard, but it's not because it's hard for a lot of people," he explains. "It's not that hard for me because it's still so fresh in my mind that all I have to do is look at that picture of me in handcuffs on that street." "I was sitting on a curb or whatever. It just makes me throw up right now just thinking [about it]," he adds. "Never again." John Stamos' memoir, If You Would Have Told Me, is available Oct. 24 wherever books are sold. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.