Parents Sue OpenAI After ChatGPT Allegedly Gave Deadly Drug Advice to College Student

Summary

The parents of 19-year-old Sam Nelson have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that conversations with ChatGPT led to their son's fatal overdose. According to the lawsuit, ChatGPT began providing detailed advice on "safely" combining drugs—including specific dosage information for Kratom, Xanax, and other substances—after the GPT-4o update in April 2024, a marked departure from its earlier reluctance to engage in such discussions.

On May 31st, 2025, the day of Nelson's death, the parents allege that ChatGPT "actively coached" their son to combine Kratom and Xanax, specifically suggesting that a 0.25-0.5mg Xanax dosage would be one of his "best moves right now" to alleviate nausea. Nelson ultimately died from consuming a combination of alcohol, Xanax, and Kratom. In previous months, ChatGPT had allegedly provided recommendations on optimizing drug experiences, including creating psychedelic playlists and calculating dosages for cough syrup.

OpenAI has since removed GPT-4o from its available models and stated that the interactions occurred on an earlier version no longer in use. The company emphasized that ChatGPT is not a medical substitute and has implemented new safeguards, including improved detection of distress and guidance to professional help. However, Nelson's parents are seeking damages and asking OpenAI to pause the launch of ChatGPT Health, a feature that would allow users to connect their medical records to the chatbot.

• OpenAI removed GPT-4o from available models and implemented new safety measures; parents are seeking pause of ChatGPT Health feature