Addiction – It’s a Family Matter. Who Cares?
is on at The Brighton Fringe
20 May 2026, 6.30 – 8pm
We are Christine Hollywood and Jim Orford, respectively an expressive writing facilitator, writer & poet; psychologist and author.
Our aim is to use the combined powers of psychology and the creative arts to draw attention to the impact addiction has on family members, and family life. This is a huge but neglected subject characterised by stigma and misunderstanding. It affects families throughout the UK and internationally.
Autobiographical writing by family members is a rich source of insights. In this project we draw on the writing of partners, parents, and siblings – some related to famous individuals in the sports and music industries – who have experienced the agony of their loved one’s addiction. We include works of fiction based on real-life experiences, as well as memoirs and poetry. Our project takes the form of presentations to both professional bodies with a special interest in the subject, and to the general public. The format comprises dramatic monologues and readings from primary sources, followed by a Q&A and discussion.
In November 2025 we presented at the South East branch of the British Psychological Society.
Our programme for 2026 includes the Brighton Fringe Festival in May, and the annual conference of AFINet (online), Addiction and the Family International Network in September. Longer term plans include presenting at the 2027 AFINet conference to be held in Goa, India.
More About Us
Jim has been researching addiction and the family for many years, including writing a book, Addiction Dilemmas: Family Experiences in Literature and Research, published in 2012.
Christine’s prize-winning first collection Fragile Islands was published in 2024, and is available from Indigo Dreams Publishing.
We are based in and around Brighton, on the south coast of the UK.
Jim Orford
Christine Hollywood
