Christy Carlson Romano's 23‑Year‑Old Cocaine Shock—She Reveals Club Chaos

Christy Carlson Romano, 42, said on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast that her first cocaine experience took place at a star‑filled party when she was 23. She recalled binge‑drinking and using drugs as a way to solve problems by partying and having fun.

In the September 29 episode, host Amanda Hirsch asked about the incident, to which Romano answered that she was old to start trying cocaine. She said, “I was old to start to try cocaine. I was, like, 23.”

## Background & Career

Romano first rose to fame in the early 2000s as a child star, playing roles in *Even Stevens*, *Kim Possible* and *Cadet Kelly*. The actress has since reflected on the transition from child star to adult performer.

In her podcast interview, Romano emphasized that after her early success she felt pressured to maintain visibility in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape. She added, “I didn’t care [if people found out]. First of all, I had been clubbing for a while just trying to get noticed and it never happened.”

She said the experience felt like a desperate bid for relevance in an industry that rarely gave her credit. She also explained that her binge‑drinking lifestyle was part of a broader strategy to cope with the pressures of stardom.

“I was a binge drinking, solve your problems by partying and going out and having fun [kind of person],” she recalled.

## Drug Use and Clubbing

Romano described her first cocaine experience as a moment of attention‑seeking. She said, “I think what I liked was the attention I got for doing it in front of people. You feel cool doing it in the moment, in the room with people.”

She recalled that the party’s atmosphere amplified her desire to stand out. Romano added, “Everybody is like, ‘I got the Disney girl to do cocaine for the first time.’” She also noted that she had been clubbing aggressively since age 21, in an attempt to “be seen with the right people or going to the right places.”

Romano admitted that lacking a publicist or stylist left her feeling adrift. She wondered why she never considered partnering with industry professionals to shape her public persona.

She also said she was not a fan of cocaine, but the allure of instant attention outweighed her reservations. “I didn’t care [if people found out],” she added, emphasizing that the decision was driven by visibility rather than drug preference.

## Reflections and Memoir

Romano said she will detail these experiences in her upcoming memoir, *Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star*. She referenced an embarrassing moment when she tried to connect with Lindsay Lohan amid her feud with Hilary Duff.

In the interview, Romano reflected, “I’ll kick myself because it’s an embarrassing story but we all have things.” She explained that she hopes the book will be relatable, saying, “And that’s what I hope makes the book relatable, where it’s, ‘Foot in mouth. You were dumb and now you’ve learned from that.’”

The memoir’s subtitle hints at both triumphs and missteps, promising readers an inside look at a life marked by fame’s highs and lows. She hopes the memoir will resonate with others who feel pressured to conform.

The book promises a candid look at the personal costs of early stardom. As Romano prepares to release her memoir, fans and industry observers alike will watch how she frames the moments that defined her transition from Disney darling to adult performer.