Sunday afternoon he found his 16-year-old son on the floor of his room at his home in California. He was a good student, applying for college and preparing for summer internships. He really liked the friends in Chicago and his city in California.
Paramedics were unable to revive him.
“He was always researching things and exploring things, he was incredibly sweet, kind and full of dreams,” he said.
Berman said he was told he appeared to have died from a fentanyl overdose. He believes the drugs were bought through a Snapchat dealer.
Berman said his son’s friend shares that Sammy met someone on the social media app to buy what he believed were prescription drugs. Santa Monica police are investigating and would only say that a preliminary investigation has led them to believe that the use of prescription drugs may have been involved.
“I wanted people to know that they might do those‘ innocent experimental things ’you can do, because they seem to be everywhere, bound with fentanyl, which they do to get you addicted,” Dr. Berman said.
FULL INTERVIEW: Dr. Berman on losing his son, what parents should know
The Drug Control Administration said it is actively investigating drug trafficking of various methods, including online through social media, websites and the dark network, and said that “many illegal substances on the market in line contain deadly fentanyl “.
Berman said his previous concerns about Snapchat had focused on inappropriate photos, not drug use. He said that while their children may be older, parents should ask for their passwords and monitor their safety online and on social media.
While Berman and his family mourn and wait for the test results, he wanted to warn other families.
“I want parents to know how to talk to your children, that the things they will get from a drug dealer are not safe and that they could kill them,” he said. “And if I can help a child not die, that helps my heart.”
Berman said she and her family are grateful for the support of her friends, family and communities and other grieving parents who have contacted her.
She has created a Facebook page for her and her families who have lost a child due to a drug overdose.
Full Snapchat statement
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Samuel Berman Chapman and we are saddened by his passing.
“We are committed to working together with law enforcement in this case and in all cases where Snapchat is used for illegal purposes. We have zero tolerance for using Snapchat to buy or sell illegal drugs. Use of Snapchat for illegal purposes is strongly contrary to 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 are witnessing illegal behavior on Snapchat, use our in-app tools to report it quickly and confidentially.
“We have no priority other than keeping Snapchat in a secure environment and we will continue to invest in protecting our community.”
Complete DEA statement
“The Drug Control Administration is actively investigating various methods of drug trafficking, including online through websites, social media platforms and the dark network. DEA Chicago, through cyber investigations, is committed to breaking and dismantling networks. of drugs that exploit the Internet to distribute illegal drugs, including fraudulent and counterfeit prescription drugs, for both adults and children.Many illegal substances marketed online contain deadly fentanyl, which is 50 times stronger than heroin and potentially lethal at doses of 2.5 milligrams.
DEA encourages parents and caregivers to talk to their children about the dangers of drug abuse and the misuse of prescription drugs, emphasizing the immediate potential for overdose death.
Tips on websites or people selling drugs through social media can be shared anonymously at dea.gov/submit-tip. ”
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