curiouspirate

[deleted]

When you say top job, do you mean it was a great position, or this was at a top institution as well?

"I'm /u/MacDrew and some critical choices I have made took my life in a whole different direction, leading me to leave Shimona State College. Thanks to support from /u/twelvesteps I have been able to change course once more, and I have found a new passion in agricultural science. I have started working towards becoming the best agricultural scientist with coursework at Major State University, and last summer I assisted a Latvian potato farmer's transition to organic methods while also increasing yield."

By all means, be forthright, but your addiction and recovery do not need to be the focus—there is (hopefully) much more to you than that. It might be better if you can show you have a new focus, like engineering clean energy solutions, elucidating the causes of multiple sclerosis, or potato farming.

With the disclaimer that I don't have strong authority on admissions, but have been to a number of panels and have heard from many admissions officers, I think most people that read your essay will be more open minded than /u/newolduser thinks. They might even be sympathetic, but your essays do not need to garner sympathy.

TlDr Show you are back on track, a stronger person, and more driven to achieve your goals. It helps when you actually have something to show like your more recent coursework.