‘Saturday Night Live’ heroin sketch sparks outrage

Editor’s Note: Kelly Wallace is CNN’s digital correspondent and editor-at-large covering family, career and life. Story highlights "Saturday Night Live" sketch about a fake heroin drug angers viewers, mothers of addicts Some are demanding a boycott of SNL and an apology from the show CNN — What were you thinking “Saturday Night Live”? That’s what a lot of fans – and mothers of addicts – are saying after a sketch on this weekend’s show featured a fake drug commercial for “Heroin AM,” an option for people “who want to use heroin” but also “get stuff done.” In the commercial, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays a school-bus-driving mama who says she can “get jacked on scag, and then get to work.” The spoof showcases the product in a box that makes it look like an over-the-counter medicine. Heroin AM - SNL “I would think after the loss of John Belushi, Chris Farley and other beloved members of your cast that you would have realized that heroin addiction is about as funny as genocide, but judging by your show last night I’d have to say, apparently not,” said Maureen Cavanagh, the founder of Magnolia New Beginnings, a support group which helps people find treatment and comforts families coping with the loss of a loved one from drug addiction. Debbie Gross Longo, a member of the Magnolia New Beginnings Facebook community whose son is battling heroin addiction, said via email that the SNL sketch “totally crossed the line.” “There is nothing comical about a child suffering with addiction,” said Gross Longo, whom I interviewed two years ago.