American relationship therapist and TV host Dr. Laura Berman has lost her beloved son, Samuel, to a drug dealer who connected with the boy on Snapchat and gave him fentinyl laced Xanax. The boy died shortly after he overdosed in his room on Sunday. He was 16.
Berman announced the sad news via Instagram Monday, which also served as a warning to other parents: “He asked his dad for a cheeseburger,” Berman told NBC News. “An hour later, I went into his room because we’d been talking about an internship for the summer that he wanted to do, and he was on the floor, gone.”
“My beautiful boy is gone. 16 years old. Sheltering at home. A drug dealer connected with him on Snapchat and gave him fentinyl laced Xanax or Percocet (toxicology will tell) and he overdosed in his room. They do this because it hooks people even more and is good for business but It causes overdose and the kids don’t know what they are taking. My heart is completely shattered and I am not sure how to keep breathing. I post this now only so that not one more kid dies. We watched him so closely. Straight A student. Getting ready for college. Experimentation gone bad. He got the drugs delivered to the house. Please watch your kids and WATCH SNAPCHAT especially. That’s how they get them.”
In another Instagram post, Berman shared an emotional message to console herself as well as anyone who might have fallen victim to such abuse.
“We are all one, made of the same energy, and energy never dies. Therefore, the energy of our loved ones’ essential self will never be gone, even if their body is no longer here. And, all of those things that they were to you and gave to you, you can already be for yourself. You are them and they are you. It’s an insanely deep and powerful experience to connect with the energy of your lost loved one and to realize that it will always be here. You can keep it forever.”
Following the news, followers of Berman and her son’s classmates have showered her with love and support.
“What a terrible loss, Laura!! I’m so sorry for your loss and I can’t even begin to imagine your pain! May you be comforted in knowing he is now an angel. Sending love!”
“Deepest love and condolences to you Laura. I hold you in the safest part of my heart. Psychically Wrap my arms tenderly around you.”
“Laura I am so heartbroken for you. I know how devastated you are and I appreciate your courage for speaking up about such an important issue during this horrible time… there is so much pressure on our kids and many feel lonely especially now.”
“I am a student at Milken who was in two of Sam’s classes and can personally say that he was such a king soul. I am so sorry for you and your family’s loss. Sam didn’t deserve to die so soon. I am sending my love and prayers. May he rest in peace”
“I am a Milken student, and although I did not know Sam personally, I have heard many great things about him. Sending my condolences to you and you family.”
A Snapchat spokesperson on behalf of the company, has expressed his deepest sympathies towards family and friends of Samuel Berman Chapman and said the company is heartbroken by his passing.
“We are committed to working together with law enforcement in this case and in all instances where Snapchat is used for illegal purposes. We have zero tolerance for using Snapchat to buy or sell illegal drugs,” the statement continued, noting using Snapchat for “illegal purposes” goes against the company’s community guidelines.
“We are constantly improving our technological capabilities to detect drug-related activity so that we can intervene proactively. … We have no higher priority than keeping Snapchat a safe environment and we will continue to invest in protecting our community.” A source confirmed to Mag Grand.
On her Instagram Story, Berman encouraged parents to have their teens get off Snapchat as there is no telling who might be the next to loose his or her beloved one to drug abuse on the platform.
