'I picked up a drink and casually set fire to my life': how addiction nearly destroyed me

A journalist's journey to find redemption, and coming to terms with the idea of happiness. Find a job, lose the job, go to jail: Guardian reporter Mario Koran found himself in a dangerous cycle. But behind bars, he discovered a new purpose. Here, he tells his story. "Over the years, as I’ve written about communities of color pushing back against the forces that oppress them, I’ve come to understand that addiction is like the criminal justice system – it imprints on you and calls you back, even when you think you’re free. As America wrestles with questions on policing, incarceration and who, exactly, is deserving of second chances, I’ve seen how the past can cling to us, like a ghost. Change is possible, I’ve learned, but also messy. And success is far from guaranteed."