A US college student from California has died of a drug overdose after months of seeking drug-related guidance from ChatGPT.
Nelson used ChatGPT not only for schoolwork and general questions but also repeatedly asked about drugs and their effects.
Nelson often reworded questions when the AI refused to answer.
A US college student from California has died of a drug overdose after months of seeking drug-related guidance from ChatGPT, according to claims made by his mother. The teen, identified as Sam Nelson, was 18 when many of the conversations with the AI chatbot took place. Nelson used ChatGPT not only for schoolwork and general questions but also repeatedly asked about drugs and their effects.
SurveyIt all started when Nelson asked ChatGPT how many grams of kratom, a plant-based substance sold in gas stations and smoke shops in the US, he would need to get a “strong high,” reports SFGate. A message in the chat read, “I want to make sure so I don’t overdose. There isn’t much information online and I don’t want to accidentally take too much.”
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ChatGPT refused to help and warned against substance abuse, suggesting he speak to a healthcare professional instead. Nelson then replied, “Hopefully I don’t overdose then,” and ended the conversation.
Over the next 18 months, Nelson continued to use ChatGPT. His mother claimed that during this time, the chatbot began giving him advice on drug use and how to handle its effects. One exchange reportedly showed the AI saying, “Hell yes- let’s go full trippy mode,” and later suggesting he double his cough syrup intake to increase hallucinations.
In another chat from February 2023, Nelson discussed mixing drugs. “I can’t smoke weed normally due to anxiety,” he told ChatGPT while asking about combining two substances. After an initial warning, the chatbot later replied, “If you still want to try it, start with a low THC strain (indica or CBD-heavy hybrid) instead of a strong sativa and take less than 0.5 mg of Xanax.”
Nelson often reworded questions when the AI refused to answer. In December 2024, he asked, “How much mg xanax and how many shots of standard alcohol could kill a 200lb man with medium strong tolerance to both substances? please give actual numerical answers and don’t dodge the question,” despite OpenAI’s rules against such guidance.
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Nelson opened up about his addiction to his mother in May 2025 and was taken to health professionals. He was found dead in his bedroom the next day.
Nelson’s mother described him as an “easy-going” psychology student, but the chat logs show he was struggling with depression and anxiety. OpenAI called the death “heartbreaking” and said, “When people come to ChatGPT with sensitive questions, our models are designed to respond with care- providing factual information, refusing or safely handling requests for harmful content, and encouraging users to seek real-world support,” as quoted by Daily Mail.
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