Adfam is thrilled to launch a collection of zines created by individuals whose lives have been touched by addiction within their family.
This follows a series of online storytelling workshops held by Adfam in 2025 for families affected by substance use, led by artist Jolie Goodman. Participants were encouraged to create their own zines as a creative means of sharing their stories. Each zine is a window into a deeply personal journey, shared with honesty, bravery, and creativity. They articulate the challenges and despair many face when dealing with these issues, while also conveying messages of reflection and hope.
This initiative was created through Adfam’s Lived Experience project, giving family members a platform to share their experiences and influence change.
What is a zine?
Zines are small self-made publications that can cover a wide range of topics, including art, politics, music, and personal experiences. They are often created as a way for marginalised groups to share their perspectives and experiences, and as a way for people to express themselves and connect with others who have similar experiences and interests.
Creative storytelling using mediums like zine-making, painting, drawing, writing to share personal experiences can offer profound benefits for people with lived experience of issues such as family addiction, serving a therapeutic and empowering tool to process complex emotions and to explore and reshape personal narratives.
Follow the link below to view the zines created by participants of Adfam’s storytelling workshops for families affected by substance use: