As a child in Massachusetts, Becca Schmill had a passion for reading, often staying up late with a flashlight to delve into the world of “Harry Potter.” However, her mother, Deb Schmill, noticed a shift when smartphones became a part of Becca’s life. Becca and her teenage friends were constantly glued to their phones, even at family gatherings and hangouts with friends.
Tragically, Becca’s smartphone played a role in her untimely death. In September 2020, at the age of 18, she passed away from drug poisoning after purchasing fentanyl-laced cocaine from a dealer she found on Facebook. Deb Schmill is now speaking out about the dangers of social media, which contributed to the traumatic events that led Becca down a destructive path. The Becca Schmill foundation, established by the family, advocates for online safety measures for young adults.
Becca’s descent into drug use began at the age of 15, following a traumatic experience of sexual assault by a boy she met online. This incident marked the start of a downward spiral that eventually led to Becca’s fatal drug overdose. Despite her family’s efforts to help her through counseling and treatment programs, Becca struggled to overcome the emptiness she felt inside.
Initially experimenting with marijuana and pills from friends, Becca’s drug use escalated to dangerous levels, fueled by easy access to substances through social media dealers. Survivors of sexual violence, like Becca, often turn to substances as a coping mechanism, seeking to numb their pain and confusion.
Dealers on social media platforms facilitated Becca’s drug abuse, using emoji codes to market their products. Despite maintaining good grades and showing an interest in psychology, Becca’s hidden struggles with substance abuse went unnoticed by her family. It wasn’t until she was caught using cocaine at school that the extent of her problem became clear.
Throughout her battles, Becca managed to maintain her humor and resilience, but the weight of her trauma and addiction eventually proved overwhelming. Deb Schmill hopes that by sharing Becca’s story, she can raise awareness about the dangers of online drug purchases and prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.
At the beginning of the pandemic, three residential treatment centers saw an increase in adult admissions. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports that drugs are now more accessible through social media. In 2021, over 80 cases of drug trafficking on internet apps were investigated by the agency.
Teenagers can easily find drugs on popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, where traffickers often advertise through temporary 24-hour posts. To avoid detection by authorities and platform guidelines, these traffickers use coded language and emojis.
Meta-owned platforms like Facebook strictly prohibit the buying and selling of drugs. In response to this issue, Meta implemented a stricter policy in November 2023 to combat the sale of substances like fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Additionally, in 2024, they introduced teen accounts with enhanced safety features for users under 18.
The DEA launched the “One Pill Can Kill” public awareness campaign, including a poster titled “Emoji Drug Code: Decoded” that reveals emoji representations for various drugs. Fentanyl, a potent substance, has contributed to many adolescent overdoses. Between July 2019 and December 2021, illicitly manufactured fentanyl was involved in 84% of teen fatal overdoses.
Becca Schmill, a mother who lost her daughter to drugs, emphasizes the importance of parents being informed about fentanyl and discussing it with their children. She advocates for policy changes through her foundation, supporting phone-free schools and lobbying lawmakers for legislation promoting online safety for minors.
Schmill stresses the need for parents to communicate openly with their teens, given the ease with which drugs can be accessed via social media. She warns that there is no safe drug experimentation due to the presence of fentanyl in counterfeit pills.
