John Stamos Credits Wife Caitlin, Son Billy for Keeping Him on a 'New Path' amid Sobriety Journey (Exclusive)

Stamos, who authored the memoir If You Would Have Told Me, exclusively tells PEOPLE why he's grateful for his wife of five years and their son

John Stamos has a lot to be grateful for. But when it comes to his long journey to sobriety, he has his wife Caitlin McHugh Stamos and son Billy to thank for keeping him on the right track.

"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," the Full House alum, 60, exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "You could get going for a little while. Then it's like, 'I can drink again.' So it's staying on the path is what they mostly do for me."

Stamos explores his bumpy journey to sobriety from alcohol in his upcoming memoir If You Would Have Told Me, out Oct. 24. And while the road to get to where he is today was tough, the actor can safely say that he's been "pretty good" at staying clean.

"It's hard, but it's not because it's hard for a lot of people. 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," he says, referencing the 2015 DUI that eventually led to him entering treatment. "I was sitting on a curb or whatever. It just makes me throw up right now just thinking [about it]. ... Never again."

Related: John Stamos on How Wife Caitlin and Son Billy Changed His Life: 'My Dreams Came True'

Stamos, in fact, knew he had to "straighten up" in order to land someone like Caitlin, whom he wed in 2018. Even though he's 23 years older than his wife of five years, the ER actor says he's "learned a lot from her."

"Being older with someone younger, you go, all right, you know everything and they need to listen to me. But I'm always learning something from her," he shares. "What I love about our household with Billy is there's always political conversations going on or charity events. When I grew up, my mom was really into charity and giving back and stuff, but Caitlin, she had a podcast called, How Can I Help? And tomorrow, she's going to Tijuana to help the kids. I just love that in our house and I love for Billy to see that."

"The other day I was listening to some political book or something. I was like, 'I never used to care about this.' And she said, 'That's because of me,'" he continues. "But she brightens up the house. And it's not just political talk, it's being a good human talk."

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Stamos then notes how he knew Caitlin would "be a good mother," adding, "This is a lot for me to say. She is as good as my mother was. I mean, when I watch her, the patience, the kindness she has for him, it's so beautiful. And I really try not to let it slip by too fast."

Related: John Stamos Spends Time with Son Billy, 5, to Mark 60th Birthday: 'I'm Right Where I'm Supposed to Be'

As for their 5-year-old son, Stamos jokingly calls Billy a "little s---."

"He's so charming and people come up to him and say, 'Oh, my God, you're so handsome. You're so charming,'" he says. "I'm like, 'Don't tell him.'"

For more on John Stamos, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday, or subscribe here. 

Stamos' journey with Caitlin and with fatherhood is a major part of his story, which will appear in his debut memoir. But getting to where he is today wasn't easy.

"I did set out to write a hero story, but then as I was doing it, I was like, 'No, I'm going to tell a human story,'" he explains. "Because with the hero story, that's bulls---. And unless I was a hundred percent forthcoming, what am I doing this for."

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.

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