City leaders vow to help fight heroin

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - A mother scheduled to speak before city councilors Monday night --kept her public promise even after her very private weekend tragedy.

Jennifer Weiss helped form an organization called the Heroin Awareness Committee to help her son Cameron battle his addiction.  She was scheduled to speak at city hall Monday night, seeking funding for a treatment facility and other methods to fight the growing heroin problem.

Saturday morning  her son Cameron died from his addiction.  "He passed away Saturday morning of a heroin overdose.  I found him in his bed and um, I didn't know if I was going to be here tonight," she said.

Jennifer told city leaders it was reminder of what she calls an epidemic killing New Mexico teens.  She says Cameron was an athlete at La Cueva High who took Oxycontin for football and wrestling injuries.  She said that lead to his heroin addiction and ultimately his death.   

City leaders tell news 13 they will look at available funding from the city state and federal resources to tackle this very serious issue.