Alpharetta mom says heroin addiction a "crisis"

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A mother in North Fulton County whose son nearly died from a heroin overdose says she has heard from many parents who have high school-age children who have used the dangerous drug.

"It's a crisis right now. I've met too many parents in trouble. There are hundreds of kids up here that are addicted to heroin. Kids are dying," said parent Kate Boccia.

Boccia, who lives in Alpharetta, told Channel 2's Tom Regan her son was addicted to pains pills in high school and then moved on to heroin.

"When I heard the first friend of his was a heroin addict, I thought, 'In Alpharetta? What are you talking about?,'" Boccia said.

One night, she found her son overdosed on heroin.

"I kicked in the door, and he was on the floor with the needle. Thank God he lived, because I have many stories that they don't survive. Parents find their kids dead," Boccia said.

In September, Regan reported deputies in neighboring Forsyth County raided a motel room where several people were dealing heroin to teenagers. Authorities reported three heroin overdose deaths in the county in the last year. Boccia said her son bought heroin from a motel in Alpharetta.

"They live in these motels, the kids. I've watched in the parking lot. It's a revolving door, coming and going out. The heroin dealers also know up here in suburbs we have money," Boccia said. "The heroin dealers also know up here in the suburbs we have money."

Boccia said her son has been clean of drugs for 15 months. She is raising money in hopes of making a documentary about heroin addiction in suburban Atlanta and is helping parents deal with the same crisis that she experienced with her son.

"We didn't cause it, but there is help. There are ways to get these kids sober," Boccia said.

WSBTV