The deaths of two Ole Miss students in separate incidents, amid reports of suspected kratom overdoses, have fueled intense speculation online and raised concerns about a potentially broader issue on college campuses.
Police and university officials confirmed the deaths in statements released Tuesday.
The students’ identities have not been made public. Investigators said packaged kratom purchased from a nearby retail store was found during the inquiries into both deaths.
Officers were dispatched to Stewart Hall at the University of Mississippi shortly after 1:30 p.m. on September 21 following a report of a possible overdose.
According to Action News 5, first responders were told that a student was unresponsive and that CPR was being performed.
That student later died on campus. A second student died in the City of Oxford that same day, Mayor Robyn Tannehill told People.
Authorities are pursuing separate investigations and said there is no evidence so far that the deaths were linked. Officials have also cautioned that kratom has not been confirmed as the cause of either death.
Despite those warnings, social media has been flooded with unverified claims that the incidents may not be isolated and that additional students could have overdosed.
Two University of Mississippi students were reported dead on September 21
What happened at Ole Miss?
Two unidentified University of Mississippi students died on September 21 in separate incidents on and near the university campus.
Police said packaged kratom sold at a retail store was discovered as part of both death investigations.
Lafayette County Metro Narcotics urged the public, as a precaution, to avoid kratom and any other medication or substance that has not been prescribed.
Although the Coroner’s Office confirmed the deaths, University Police said they had no information indicating that any other students had died.
“We do not have confirmed information indicating that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death,” the narcotics agency said in a news release.
“We ask the public to avoid speculation regarding the circumstances or cause of either death while these investigations remain ongoing,” the agency added.
Campus police and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating their efforts as officials work to determine the causes of death.
The university told People it was “heartbroken” by the news and acknowledged that substantial unverified information about the deaths was circulating on social media and throughout the community.
Ole Miss asked for the community ‘not to speculate’ on the circumstances regarding the student’s deaths
“We encourage our community not to speculate about the circumstances or repeat information that has not been officially confirmed,” the university said.
“We appreciate your understanding and support for our campus community during this difficult time.”
What is kratom and what are its effects?
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves are crushed and packaged in pill form and sold across the United States.
Kratom leaves can also be brewed as tea, or smoked.
At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects, with users reporting increased alertness, physical energy, and talkativeness. At high doses, users experience sedative effects, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Several cases of psychosis resulting from kratom use have been reported, and regular consumption can lead to addiction.
Individuals with long term kratom use reported psychotic symptoms including hallucinations, delusion, and confusion.
Kratom users have also experienced anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, hepatotoxicity and seizures.
Kratom is sold at convenience stores across the United States
Several cases of psychosis have been reported as a result of its use
Is kratom legal?
Kratom is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act, but some states regulate or prohibit its possession and use, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin and others.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom for any medical use, and it cannot be lawfully marketed as a dietary supplement.
The DEA has listed it as a Drug and Chemical of Concern.
The agency reports that abuse of the drug, known on the streets as ‘thang, kakuam, thom, ketum, and biak,’ has increased markedly in recent years.
