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Kratom Risks Draw New Attention After Two Ole Miss Students Die
Officials said packaged kratom was found in both investigations, but they have not confirmed it contributed to either student's death.
- On September 21, 2026, two University of Mississippi students were found dead in separate incidents, with Oxford Police Department investigators discovering packaged kratom at both locations during their probes.
- Kratom, a Southeast Asian herbal extract marketed as an energy booster and pain reliever, acts as a stimulant or sedative depending on dosage, according to the Mayo Clinic, which warns it carries significant addiction risks.
- Although Mississippi law generally permits kratom sales to individuals 21 and older, Lafayette County, home of the University, has maintained a local ban on kratom since 2021 to restrict access.
- Officials have not established a direct link between kratom and the deaths, but issued a precautionary warning urging the public to avoid substances not obtained from trusted, regulated sources.
- Usage of kratom remains at an all-time high in the U.S., with over 5 million people reporting lifetime use; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for medical use, and the CDC deems it a 'public health concern'.
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32 Articles
The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)What is Kratom? The ‘gas station drug’ that has officials worried
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources32
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center28Last UpdatedBias Distribution88% Center
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources are Center
88% Center
C 88%
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