Christine Brown is candid about her past struggles with addiction.
Though she has shared aspects of her life on “Sister Wives” since 2010, the 53-year-old mother sometimes kept certain details to herself.
In her newly released memoir, “Sister Wife,” published on September 2, Brown revealed that she was prescribed oxycodone during her marriage to her ex-husband, Cody Brown.
She wrote about her experience following a significant injury just before her daughter Maddie’s wedding in 2016, which required knee surgery. Brown described how, after the operation, she turned to medication for relief.
When she sought her husband’s guidance, he seemed unsure of how to help.
Brown recalls asking him, “What do I need to do?” only to receive a vague, “No,” in response.
Seeking support instead from her mother-in-law and daughter, Brown admitted she had never previously taken oxycodone, relying only on over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen or aspirin. She explained her struggle with the idea that if you mask the pain, you might avoid addressing the underlying issue.
After surgery, the pain led her to oxycodone, and she described a dramatic change in how she felt.
“It gave me the best I’ve ever felt,” she shared. “I was at the top of the world!” But the euphoria was fleeting, and she later reflected on how devastating the experience became.
Brown explained that, even months after stopping the medication, she felt an ongoing impact—just not being herself. Writing the memoir helped her confront the reality of her oxycodone dependency.
She remarked that oxycodone is perilous for those who don’t genuinely need it. If someone is in severe pain, sure, it has its place, but she recognized her susceptibility to addiction and believes it’s better to avoid it altogether.
The topic was too personal and embarrassing for her to discuss on the show, she admitted.
Brown and Cody married in 1994 and share six children: Aspyn, Mykelti, Paedon, Gwendlyn, Isabel, and Truly, but they separated in 2021.
A year later, she revealed what led to their divorce, noting that Cody admitted he was no longer attracted to her during a candid talk on their show.
Hearing that was painful for Brown, underscoring her feelings of inadequacy and the reality of their failing relationship.
Reflecting on the situation, Cody described feeling relieved that he wouldn’t have to pursue a relationship devoid of attraction.
In a subsequent episode, he alluded to his “stoic” nature during their discussions, identifying their marriage struggles as root causes.
After her split from Cody, his second wife, Janelle, also chose to leave him after more than 20 years together.
Cody and his first wife, Meri, parted ways in 2022 after a 32-year marriage, leaving Robyn as the only wife still with him.
This year, Christine married David Woolley in a ceremony attended by 330 guests at Red Cliff Lodge in Moab, Utah.
Brown described the event as a “fairy tale,” expressing how it fulfilled every dream she had about love and commitment.
