Christy Carlson Romano Details Cocaine Use and Bulimia in Memoir

Christy Carlson Romano, known for her roles on Disney Channel, has revealed details of her past struggles with cocaine and bulimia in her forthcoming memoir, "Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star." The book, set to be released on October 6, explores a turbulent period in Romano's life.

Romano recounts her first experience with cocaine at a Halloween party hosted by Paris Hilton. According to an excerpt obtained by People, a guest at the party offered her the drug. Romano, who had previously vowed never to try cocaine, described the situation, stating she was aware of what the white lines on the table represented but had never used the substance before.

Following her first use of cocaine, Romano writes that she and other partygoers laughed, with one remarking on getting "the Disney girl to do blow for the first time." The actress also details her battle with bulimia, explaining that she developed the eating disorder "just to feel something." During this period, she reported fitting into a size 00 in pants.

Romano describes spending six months in Los Angeles, where her lifestyle involved sleeping during the day and partying at night. She continued to use cocaine after her initial experience. This period led her to believe that she needed to leave Hollywood, which she felt was characterized by "shallowness" and was potentially harmful to her well-being, stating, "It’s going to kill me."

Romano has previously spoken about her struggles with eating disorders. In October 2021, she shared in a YouTube video that she had reached a low weight of 105 pounds. She recalled a period of heavy drinking, smoking cigarettes, and not eating, which significantly impacted her overall health. Looking back at photographs from that time, she recognized the unhappiness associated with that lifestyle.

Romano also recently shared a story on Instagram about an ex-boyfriend, Shawn Ashmore, who she claims ghosted her because she "wasn't famous enough." She explained that they dated during the filming of "Cadet Kelly" and for a few months afterward, but she eventually stopped hearing from him after his "team" reportedly decided she was not famous enough for their relationship.

Romano stated that she wrote her memoir to "expose everything that actually happens in this business," aiming to shed light on the realities faced by individuals in the entertainment industry, particularly child stars. The book cover features a woman in a disheveled yellow dress crawling out of a dark circular portal on a pink background.