Rutgers University Study: One-Third of Young Adults Consult AI About Substance Use

In a study of nearly 1,000 participants, Rutgers Health researchers found that more than one-third of young adults aged 18-29 turn to generative AI tools to obtain information regarding substance use.

The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Formative Research, shows that young people primarily use these tools to get information about the risks and potential consequences of substance use. Researchers warned that this could lead to risky behaviors due to the potential for AI chatbots to generate misinformation.

Lead author Mireia Triguero Roura stated that young people, who are in the age group most vulnerable to the negative effects of substance use, face the risk of being misinformed when using these tools. Data reveals that approximately half of those who use AI for this purpose consult these tools at least once a month.

The study also observed that Black and male participants were more likely to turn to AI for topics related to substance use. Triguero Roura suggested that these differences might stem from variations in access to healthcare, stigma, trust, and information-seeking behaviors. The findings also indicated that participants have a high level of trust in AI tools.