Lawsuit: Woman’s fentanyl death enabled by Snapchat drug sales

Ciara Gilliam, 22, died in August 2022 after taking a Xanax tablet that turned out to be laced with fentanyl. The lawsuit says she purchased the drugs via Snapchat.(Supply: Household photographs, KCCI through CNN)

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) - An Iowa household, whose beloved one died after taking a tablet laced with fentanyl, is amongst these suing Snap, the mother or father firm of Snapchat, for allegedly making it simple to purchase medication on the app.

Ciara Gilliam, 22, is being remembered as a contented, outgoing individual, capable of make associates all over the place she went. She died in August 2022 after taking a Xanax tablet that turned out to be laced with fentanyl.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of Gilliam’s household says the 22-year-old developed a compulsion to have interaction with Snapchat in any respect hours and had bother sleeping due to it. It alleges this system’s options linked her to different customers, full strangers who assaulted and abused her.

Ciara Gilliam, 22, died in August 2022 after taking a Xanax tablet that turned out to be laced with fentanyl. The lawsuit says she purchased the drugs via Snapchat.(Supply: Household photographs, KCCI through CNN)

The lawsuit additionally alleges these options linked her to a supplier, and she or he started buying Xanax via Snapchat to assist her sleep. It was a type of drugs, which she didn’t understand was laced with fentanyl, that killed her, in line with the lawsuit.

The lawsuit accuses Snapchat of constructing it simple for Gilliam to purchase medication on the platform. The plaintiffs level to options like disappearing messages, maps and different distinctive options they declare facilitate unlawful and lethal gross sales of counterfeit drugs.

“Snapchat’s faulty design and Snap’s failure to warn had been substantial elements in inflicting Ciara Gilliam’s dying,” the lawsuit reads.

Gilliam’s dad and mom have supplied a reward for anybody who helps them discover the one that offered their daughter the medication.

Seven different households throughout the nation are concerned within the lawsuit.

A Snap spokesperson mentioned they couldn’t touch upon lively litigation however referred to as the losses devastating and mentioned the corporate is working to cease drug sellers from utilizing Snapchat.

“We're dedicated to bringing each useful resource to bear to assist struggle this nationwide disaster,” reads the corporate’s assertion partially.