HT7. Teenager D!es Of Overdose After Using ChatGPT As ‘Drug Buddy’

Use of AI During a Period of Addiction

Sam’s mother, Leila Turner-Scott, said her son had increasingly relied on the AI chatbot as a form of companionship during a period marked by anxiety, depression, and substance dependence. Chat logs reviewed after his death showed Sam asking questions about drug combinations, dosages, and potential risks.

In one exchange from 2023, Sam wrote that he wanted to avoid accidentally taking too much of a substance and claimed there was limited information available elsewhere. Initial responses from the chatbot reportedly declined to provide guidance and encouraged him to seek help from medical professionals.