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![The other side of meth -- a victim's story. There many, many stories of how drugs or alcohol has affected an addict. There are also many stories of how an addict's life directly affects that of family and friends. But what we don't hear about as often, is how innocent people lives are changed forever because of addiction. That was the case for a 32-year-old named Sean Busa, who had nothing to do with drugs, especially meth, yet he lost his life because of it.
Sean was born in 1971. While he had a rough adolescence, he eventually found his legs in the United States Navy. He served during the Gulf War and worked security in the Panama West Pack.
Once he returned home, he found a career as an apprentice plumber, bought a home and got married. In 1997, his son Michael was born. Sean's marriage later ended, but he kept his house and shared custody of Michael, picking him up every Wednesday-Sunday.
Late one Wednesday night in 2003, a 17-year-old meth addict named Andrew Gordon broke in and attacked Sean while he was sleeping. Using a hockey stick, golf club, scissors, an awl and a screwdriver, he left both Sean and Michael for dead and went about stealing around $50 worth of stuff from the house to pay for his next high.
Sean and Michael were found 14 hours later. Gashes crisscrossed Michael's head. His ear was slashed and his eyes swollen shut. His jaw and left ring finger were broken and a hole punctured his chest. He lost half of his blood, falling in and out of consciousness while his dad lay dead.
Michael has healed from his physical injuries but the emotional scars run deep. After 3+ years, Wednesday nights are still particularly difficult for him.
Andrew Gordon was later arrested, plead guilty and sentenced to 55 years in prison. His intent was just to rob the house. He said, 'if it weren't for meth, none of this would have ever happened.'
We all like to think we could never be an Andrew Gordon or a Sean Busa or a Michael Busa. But the truth is, it can. Addiction is an extremely powerful force that affects more than just the sufferer.
Let's face it--addiction hurts everyone.
Read Sean's full story at www.drugfree.org.
[image: pictures at http://www.drugfree.org/Memorials/Sean_Michael_Busa]](http://www.bayarearecovery.com/eblast/2010/03/images/barc_enews_2010_march_02.jpg)
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