One in three young adults use AI chatbots for drug and alcohol information, study finds

Researchers warn that chatbots could spread misinformation about substance use, as a survey finds that one in three young adults in the United States are turning to AI for drug-related information. One in three young adults has used generative artificial intelligence to seek information about drugs and alcohol, raising questions about the public health risks of chatbots becoming an increasingly common source of health advice. A study published in JMIR Formative Research found that 32% of 995 US adults aged 18 to 29 had used tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Meta AI for substance-related information. Among those who had done so, nearly half reported using AI for that purpose at least monthly, including 12% who used it weekly and 4% who did so daily or almost daily. “Using these tools can lead to misinformed or otherwise risky substance-use behaviour among young people, who are the age group most affected by adverse effects of substance use,” Mireia Triguero Roura, a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University and lead author of the study, said in a press release. Of those who used AI for substance-related queries, 93% had also used Google search for the same broad purpose, suggesting that chatbots are supplementing rather than necessarily replacing established online search tools. Risks and consequences top the list The survey, conducted online in April 2026, found that users primarily turned to chatbots to learn about the risks and consequences of substance use — nearly 93% of those who had used AI for substance-related purposes cited this as a reason. Around half sought substance-specific information, including questions about dosage, while 35% used AI to explore topics related to substance use disorders, such as addiction. Young adults in the survey generally rated AI highly for helpfulness, reliability and trustworthiness. Those who used it for substance-related queries gave it an average trustworthiness score of 3.66 out of five, compared with 3.51 for general use. The study also found differences in substance-related AI use by race and sex. Black respondents were more likely than white respondents to report using AI for substance-related information, with adjusted odds 2.52 times higher. Male respondents had approximately twice the adjusted odds of female respondents. “The observed disparities in who chooses to use AI for drug-related inquiries could reflect differences in healthcare access, stigma, trust, and health information-seeking behaviors,” said Triguero Roura. The researchers said future work should assess the accuracy of chatbot responses, investigate the reasons behind demographic differences in use and establish how the information influences decisions and behaviour.