Amy Neville, despite the pain it brings, continues to bravely share the tragic ordeal her 14-year-old son, Alexander Neville, went through, in order to save lives. Neville, aged 52, recounted the heartbreaking incident of her son unknowingly consuming fentanyl and tragically passing away on the fifth anniversary of his death.
Through the platform of the Alexander Neville Foundation, a non-profit organization, Neville shares her son’s story of sorrow with other parents. She estimates having given hundreds of in-person and online speeches, reaching about 300,000 people to warn about the lurking dangers on social media that can lead to the unfortunate deaths of young individuals like Alexander.
Neville also serves as the lead plaintiff in a groundbreaking lawsuit that could potentially impact the operations of major tech companies in the United States. She believes changes need to be made to prevent tragedies like Alexander’s from befalling young individuals drawn to platforms like Snapchat.
Neville and her husband are one of the 63 families suing Snapchat as victims of fentanyl. They accuse the platform of flaws and disturbances to the public, holding it accountable for incidents of fentanyl overdoses, poisoning, and injuries among its users.
The case, represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center based in Seattle, involves dozens of families whose children fatally overdosed on fentanyl-tainted drugs purchased on Snapchat. As of writing, Snap has yet to respond to requests for comments.
Five years ago, the Nevilles resided in Aliso Viejo, Irvine, one of the safest communities in California. Amy ran her yoga center while her husband, Aaron, was a web developer. They raised their daughter, Eden, and son, Alexander, known as Alex, in what seemed like a “normal” middle-class family setting.
Alexander, a bright young boy with interests in history, skateboarding, and gaming, tragically fell victim to fentanyl overdose through a misstep. Neville recalls not knowing about fentanyl at the time and never imagined such lethal drugs could be involved.
Neville has since transitioned into an advocate role, engaging with parents nationwide on the dangers of social media and drug trafficking. She now resides near Tucson, Arizona, where she responds to calls from anxious parents and teenagers, providing information, and helping them connect with necessary support systems.
The tragic loss of Alexander has propelled Neville to take a stand against social media platforms like Snapchat, holding them accountable for the harmful content and ease of drug transactions they facilitate, especially among vulnerable youth.
As Neville fights for justice, the legal battle against Snapchat continues, as she seeks to memorialize her son’s memory and make a difference in safeguarding young lives from the perils of social media.