On Sunday afternoon, she found her 16-year-old son on his bedroom floor in their California home. He was a good student, applied to the university and prepared himself for a summer internship. He was very popular with friends in Chicago and his city in California.
He could not be revived by paramedics.
“He was always exploring things and exploring things, and was incredibly sweet, friendly and full of dreams,” she said.
According to Berman, she was told he apparently died from a fentanyl overdose. She believes the drugs were bought by a retailer on Snapchat.
Berman said her son’s friend tells that Sammy met someone on the social media app to buy prescription drugs, according to him. Police in Santa Monica are investigating, and would just say a preliminary investigation has led them to believe that prescription drugs may have been involved.
“I wanted people to know that the ‘innocent experimental things’ you may be doing are likely because they seem to be everywhere, braided with fentanyl, which they are doing to make you addicted,” said Dr. Berman said.
COMPLETE INTERVIEW: Dr. Berman about the loss of her son, what parents need to know
The Drug Enforcement Administration said it was actively investigating drug trafficking in various ways, including online via social media, websites and the dark web, and said “many illegal drugs marketed online contain lethal fentanyl.”
Berman said her previous concerns about Snapchat focused on inappropriate photos, not drug use. She said that although their children may be getting older, parents should still ask for their passwords and monitor their online and social media activities for their safety.
While Berman and her family are sad and waiting for test results, she wanted to warn other families.
“I want parents to know that they need to talk to your children, that things they are going to get from a drug dealer are not safe and can kill them very well,” she said. “And if I can help one child not to die, it helps my heart.”
Berman said she and her family are grateful for the support of their friends, family and communities and of other grieving parents who have reached out to her.
She started a Facebook page for herself and families who lost a child due to drug overdose.
Full statement from Snapchat
“Our deepest sympathy is with the family and friends of Samuel Berman Chapman and we are saddened by his passing.
“We are committed to cooperating with law enforcement in this case and in all cases where Snapchat is used for illegal purposes. We have no tolerance for using Snapchat to buy or sell illegal drugs. Using Snapchat for Illegal purposes are in violation of our Community Guidelines and we enforce these violations. We are constantly improving our technological capabilities to detect drug-related activities so that we can intervene proactively. If you observe illegal behavior on Snapchat, use our tools in the app to report it quickly and confidentially, we can take action.
“We have no higher priority than keeping Snapchat in a safe environment, and we will continue to invest in protecting our community.”
Full statement from the DEA
The Drug Enforcement Administration is actively investigating various methods of drug trafficking, including online via websites, social media platforms and the dark network. DEA Chicago has been linked through cyber investigations to the disruption and dismantling of drug networks using the Internet to distribute illegal drugs including fraudulent and counterfeit prescription drugs – both adults and children.Many illicit drugs marketed online contain lethal fentanyl – which is 50 times stronger than heroin, and possibly lethal in doses of 2.5 milligrams.
DEA encourages parents and caregivers to talk to their children about the dangers of drug abuse and prescription drug abuse, and emphasizes the immediate potential of an overdose death.
Tips on websites or individuals selling drugs via social media can be shared anonymously at dea.gov/submit-tip. ‘
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