Rutgers Study Finds About One-Third of Young Adults Use AI for Substance-Use Information, With Caveats
A Rutgers survey of nearly 1,000 young adults examines how people turn to AI for information about drugs and alcohol and the limits of that guidance.
What happened
Researchers surveyed almost 1,000 participants and found that about one in three people aged 18 to 29 use AI chatbots for substance-use information, often focusing on risks and consequences. They note that AI can reproduce misinformation and how usage varies across groups.
Why it matters
AI can broaden access to information but may also spread incorrect or incomplete guidance; understanding how outputs are interpreted helps publics healthively. Further study is needed on how young adults comprehend AI results related to substances.
Rutgers researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 participants and found that more than one in three young adults use AI chatbots for substance-use information, with roughly half reporting monthly engagement. The work, appearing in a Rutgers-affiliated journal segment, highlights that AI can reproduce misinformation and mislead readers about risks.
Disparities emerged: Black and male respondents showed higher use for substance-use queries, which may reflect differences in healthcare access, stigma, trust, or information-seeking habits. The authors call for more research into how youths interpret AI outputs on drugs and alcohol and what that means for public health.
What this does not tell us
Findings come from a specific survey of young adults and may not generalize to all populations or every AI tool; causality cannot be inferred.
FOR PEOPLE
Benefits reportedAI expands information access, but people should verify guidance with trusted health sources.
FOR AI AND ITS OPERATORS
Benefits reportedProvide clear, factual summaries and note study limits; avoid overstating generalizability.
These are two separate readings of what the sources describe. Reported claims and risks do not by themselves establish a real-world effect.
Original sources · 1
- A Third of Young Adults Turn to Artificial Intelligence for Substance-Use Information ↗Rutgers University · 2026-10-23
Reporting discovered in United Kingdom · United States. Discovery market does not mean the event happened there.
What is your take?
Ask a question, add useful context or share a different perspective. Keep the conversation respectful and grounded.