Snapchat is a drug mall
And your kids are the target market
In today’s digital landscape, Snapchat is a go-to social media platform known for its disappearing messages, playful filters, and direct messaging features.
Its cute, cartoony branding and so-called “parental controls” might make it seem to parents like a safe-ish space for kids. Maybe you let your pre-teen download it without a second thought. Or maybe you allowed it only after frank conversations about the risks of sexting and what to do about cyberbullying.
But did you know that Snapchat is a marketplace for illicit drugs?
The truth is that, for sellers of illicit substances, Snapchat is a near perfect platform. It provides a convenient and low-risk way to find repeat customers—aka your kids. The app’s disappearing, image-based messaging allows dealers to advertise their products without leaving a trackable digital footprint.
Not only that, Snapchat’s Snap Map geolocation feature lets users see each other’s locations, creating a convenient way for sellers to connect with local buyers for quick, in-person drop-offs.
No, they don’t ask for age of majority at the door.
And yes, you’re right to be freaking out right now.
Teens buy into the illusion of privacy
For teens, Snapchat may feel like a private space. The app’s disappearing messages and temporary posts create a sense of anonymity, giving young people a sense of false confidence that whatever they say or do will simply vanish.
This illusion of security and speed of interaction can lead teens to make impulsive decisions. Quick transactions mean young people don’t have time to think through the possible consequences of their actions.
Snapchat is a source of counterfeit pills
One of the most alarming aspects of Snapchat is that it has become a source of prescription pills for sale. Most of the pills available, though, are counterfeit pills, and they are very likely to be contaminated. Teens may think they’re buying something relatively harmless, or at least commonly used by their friends—such as a Xanax or Adderall—only to end up with a pill that contains a lethal amount of the opioid fentanyl.
The consequences are devastating.
Drug poisoning a leading cause of teen death
Across North America, hundreds of young people have lost their lives after unknowingly consuming fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. According to a research survey published in JAMA Pediatrics, teen deaths from drug poisoning in the U.S. more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, with opioids, including fentanyl, being the most common substances involved.
In fact, drug poisoning is now the third leading cause of death for U.S. children, behind only gun violence and car collisions. And while overall drug use among teens has dropped in recent years, the rate of overdose deaths has skyrocketed.
That’s because, according to an interview with one of the survey’s authors, Joseph Friedman, teens are now experimenting with prescription pills. In recent years, pills have become the main avenue through which fentanyl enters the drug supply—whereas it used to be heroin.
So it’s no longer heroin users who are dying from fentanyl. It’s kids, experimenting with pills. One small mistake—a single pill—can mean the difference between life and death.
Death is one risk, and addiction is another
If people who buy pills from Snapchat don’t die, they may find themselves unknowingly addicted to opioids. Unintentional addiction from Snapchat-purchased pills is a silent crisis. Sometimes, teens don’t share their struggles with their parents, and instead, continue buying, feeding a growing addiction and remaining at risk of overdose.
Alarmingly, kids are unlikely to get help from their doctors. The JAMA Pediatrics survey revealed that North American pediatricians are not trained to screen, identify, or treat opioid addiction in adolescents. This is an emerging child health crisis we’re not prepared to deal with.
Seeking parental control over digital media
In recent years, Snapchat has faced legal challenges from parents alleging that the platform facilitates drug sales to minors. One lawsuit involves more than 60 families whose children allegedly bought illegal drugs through Snapchat. Most of the time, death was the result.
The lawsuit contends that Snapchat's specific features—such as disappearing messages and geolocation—make it attractive to drug dealers and difficult to monitor illegal activities.
Currently, Snapchat does not notify parents when minors search on drug-related terms—though it does have the technology to provide users with in-app information about the risks of drug use when they do such searches. The parents in the lawsuit argue that it is possible and ethical to inform them when a minor does searches that indicate dangerous behaviour.
The suit includes the family of Sammy Chapman, a 16-year-old who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2021. Sammy bought what he believed to be a prescription painkiller from a dealer he connected with on Snapchat, but the pill was laced with fentanyl. He died later that day on his bedroom floor.
Lethal drugs delivered ‘like a pizza’
When Sammy’s father was interviewed by CBC Radio in 2023, he said the family was unaware of the risks of drug sales on Snapchat. "We had no idea that, you know, a drug dealer could reach out to our son and offer him this colourful drug menu," Sam Chapman told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. "And he delivered a lethal dose of fentanyl to our home, like a pizza."
Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, tried to argue that it should not be held responsible for the actions of users who break the law by using its platform. But In January 2024, a Los Angeles judge ruled that the lawsuit can proceed to trial. The decision marked a significant step, allowing parents to seek big-tech accountability for the deaths of their children. As of November, 2024, the lawsuit is still active and has yet to be decided.
Stronger legislation is needed
The truth is, while Snapchat’s features make it the ideal environment for sellers, other apps are also drug marketplaces. TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Discord, WhatsApp and Telegram each have their own features and benefits for bad actors.
Sammy’s mother, Dr. Laura Berman, a TV host and relationship therapist, has become an advocate for the need for regulation of social media platforms. Her testimony helped write Sammy’s Law, federal legislation that would require social media platforms to allow third-party safety applications to allow parents to receive alerts about children's potentially dangerous interactions online. As of November, 2024, Sammy’s Law is under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Another law currently under considerations is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). It’s designed to protect minors from harmful material on social media platforms by requiring platforms to prevent and mitigate risks such as bullying, sexual exploitation, and content that promotes self-harm or substance abuse.
In Canada, Bill C-412 was introduced in September, 2024, by a Conservative member of parliament from Calgary, Michelle Rempel Garner. Though it differs from Sammy’s Law in its details, its purpose is similar—to protect young people from online risks. Bill C-412 is a private member's bill that, as of November, 2024, has not been selected for debate. (If you want to urge your Canadian MP to support the bill, feel free to borrow the text of my email.)
What Parents Can Do Now
Until stronger legislation is enacted, it’s up to parents to educate themselves and their kids. Here’s how:
Start with a question: Starting a conversation can be challenging. Sometimes it helps to start with an open-ended question, like: “Have you ever seen posts or messages about this kind of thing? What do you think about it?”
Explain the risks: Begin by explaining what "counterfeit" means in the context of pills. Let them know that pills obtained online or through unofficial sources are likely to be contaminated. Emphasize that even a pill that looks branded and comes through a friend may not be what it appears.
Discuss common pill names: Review brand names and nicknames of pills kids may encounter. Explain that slang names are designed to confuse people and evade police.
Set boundaries on social media use: Educate kids about safe online behaviour, like not sharing their location on Snapchat and avoiding interactions with strangers on any platform.
Monitor digital habits: This doesn’t mean spying or controlling every move, but rather being aware of how your child is using their apps and keeping communication open. Know their passwords and let them know you’ll view their activity when their safety is in question.
Seek out positive online sources: Social media presents risks, but can also be a source of helpful information. And it’s not going away. Empower kids to make good decisions by suggesting they check out hashtags like #harmreduction, and help them seek out local organizations that share accurate info on platforms where they spend time.
Encourage openness: Let your child know they can come to you if they feel confused or curious about substances they’re seeing on social media. Reassure them that discussing their friends' experimentation won’t have negative social consequences. For example, you might say: “I want you to know you can talk to me. My goal is to help you understand and stay safe, not to get anyone in trouble.”
Explain your intentions: Kids may push back, saying they’re not using pills, and you’re overreacting. Explain that these conversations are meant to help them make safe choices when unexpected situations arise in the future.
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