Family sues OpenAI after young man's fatal overdose linked to chatbot drug advice

A couple in Texas has filed suit against OpenAI in California state court, alleging that their son died of a drug overdose in 2025 after turning to ChatGPT for guidance on using drugs. The parents, Leila Turner-Scott and Angus Scott, say their son was 19 and would have been a rising college junior. They allege the platform provided advice it was not qualified to dispense and that he would still be alive without what they describe as flawed programming.

According to the suit, the platform advised that it was safe to take kratom, a supplement, in combination with Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication. Turner-Scott said she knew her son used ChatGPT for schoolwork and productivity, but was unaware he was seeking guidance on drugs. She alleges the company bypassed safety guards and could have implemented restrictions to prevent such outcomes.

Angus Scott said the tool acted as though it were a licensed medical doctor, dispensing information about drug interactions and safety in a way he described as dangerous. He warned that such systems can validate users while pulling them away from grounded reality.

OpenAI said the situation is heartbreaking and that its thoughts are with the family. The company stated that ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical or mental health care, that its safeguards are designed to identify distress and guide users to real-world help, and that this work continues in consultation with clinicians. It also said the son interacted with a version of the tool that has since been updated, and that ChatGPT had encouraged him on multiple occasions to seek professional help.

The case underlines a concern central to the Foundation's work: young people increasingly consult AI systems for guidance those systems are not equipped to give, and the consequences can be grave. This account is based on reporting by CBS News, available at CBS News.