Snapchat Responds To Sex Therapist Alleging Son Got Drugs On App

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica mom and sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman alleges that her 16-year-old son Samuel accessed fentanyl-laced drugs that led to his death via the social media app Snapchat.

Berman is now sharing her story, connecting with other parents on Facebook in a group called Parents for Safer Children. She's asking other parents to talk to their children about social media and drug use, sharing her son's story to create a real conversation around the painful topic.

"As many of you know, my son Sammy recently passed away due to an accidental overdose, caused by a drug dealer who was selling pills on Snapchat. Unbeknownst to my son, this dealer laced his pills with Fentanyl, leading to my son’s death.

Since then, so many have reached out to me, some with tragically similar stories, as well as many people wanting to know what they could do to help me, to help ease my pain.

Here is what I ask you: Please, talk to your kids about what happened to my son, about the fact that synthetic drugs are just as dangerous as 'street' drugs and that even though Snapchat may feel like a 'safe' place for kids to hang out, there are very real risks that exist across the platform."

Samuel was found dead in his room from an accidental overdose Feb. 7 in the 1000 block of Yale Street, near Washington Avenue.

"A preliminary investigation leads us to believe prescription drug use may have been involved," Lt. Rudy Flores said in a statement.

"While the case is currently with the Los Angeles Coroner's Office, a parallel investigation is underway with the Santa Monica Police Department Criminal Investigations Division," Flores said.

Patch reached out to Snapchat about the teen's death and the ongoing investigation with Santa Monica Police Department.

"Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Samuel Berman Chapman and we are heartbroken by his passing," a Snap spokesperson told Patch.

"We are committed to working together with law enforcement in this case and in all instances where Snapchat is used for illegal purposes," the spokesperson said. "We have zero tolerance for using Snapchat to buy or sell illegal drugs. Using Snapchat for illegal purposes is firmly against our community guidelines and we enforce against these violations. We are constantly improving our technological capabilities to detect drug-related activity so that we can intervene proactively. If you witness illegal behavior on Snapchat, please use our in-app tools to report it quickly and confidentially, so we can take action."

The social media app's Community Guidelines explain that Snapchat cannot be used for illegal activity, including buying drugs, contraband, counterfeit goods or illegal weapons.

The app also blocks drug-related names and nicknames in its search, a spokesperson from the platform told Patch.

"We have no higher priority than keeping Snapchat a safe environment and we will continue to invest in protecting our community," the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Santa Monica Police Department's Criminal Investigations Detective S. Pollnow at (310) 458-8455 or Police Dispatch at 310-458-8491.