The Story
About Addicted Alex's Story
Alex didn't set out to become addicted. No one ever does. Addicted Alex's Story traces the arc of one person's descent into substance use and the devastating ripple effect it creates on everyone around them.
We experience addiction not just from Alex's perspective, but through the eyes of a parent watching their child disappear, a sister slowly vanishing in her brother's storm, torn between saving him and saving herself, and a partner torn between love and self-preservation.
The story unfolds in real time. Visceral, honest, and deeply human. It doesn't moralize. It doesn't preach. It simply shows what addiction really looks like from the inside, and then it asks the audience a question.
From the Writer
Christle Henzel, M.S., L.C.P.C.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
School Psychologist
Writer & Director
My story begins with my brother Jason, who began struggling with substance use at a young age. Little by little, we watched addiction take him away from us.
This journey didn't just affect him, it consumed our entire family. We lived in a constant cycle of hope and heartbreak. Some days we believed he would overcome it. Other days we felt powerless, watching him fight a battle that seemed stronger than all of us.
At 19 years old, my brother Jason took his own life. There are no words that can describe that kind of loss. Our family was devastated. I had to find purpose in that pain.
So I began writing. I remembered watching movies while Jason was struggling and feeling frustrated, addiction was often portrayed as glamorous, rebellious, or exciting. That was far from the truth. Those films never showed the anxiety, the broken trust, the sleepless nights, the fear that our family carried every single day. So I set out to write something that told the truth. First came Addicted, then Addicted: Alex's Story, which continues to be performed live and has been adapted into a film.
"Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.", Ziad K. Abdelnour
I dedicate every performance to Jason, and to every family that knows this story too well. My hope is that maybe one person, after watching, will pause before making a choice to use, or that someone who is struggling will feel seen enough to ask for help. If one conversation begins because of this story, then my brother's life continues to make an impact.
Themes Explored
The Grip of Addiction
We experience what addiction feels like from the inside, how it takes hold, builds tolerance, and shifts from chasing a high to running from being sick.
The Impact on the People Who Love Him
Alex isn't the only one losing himself. His mother and girlfriend Sara are drowning alongside him, caught between loving him and losing themselves trying to save him.
Stigma & Silence
The shame that surrounds addiction, not just for the person using, but for the family and the people closest to them. The silence that keeps everyone suffering alone.
Choices & Consequences
Every path the audience chooses reveals a different turning point, saying no before it starts, asking for help in the middle of it, or recognizing that the people around you are leading you somewhere you don't want to go. One decision changes everything.
Recovery & Hope
Recovery isn't guaranteed in this story. It's chosen. And if the audience sends Alex down that path, they witness what it takes to ask for help and what it makes possible.
Ready to Bring This to Your Community?
Whether you book the live play or host a film screening, you're giving your community an experience that creates real change. Both options include a post-show discussion guide.