Two Ole Miss Student Deaths Spur Kratom Warning

Two University of Mississippi students were found dead Monday afternoon, one on campus and one off campus. Lafayette County Metro Narcotics on Tuesday urged people to avoid kratom after packages were found at both scenes, saying there was no confirmed information it contributed to either death. Authorities reported no evidence the deaths were connected; the kratom came from an unnamed retail store. Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday two state agencies were expediting toxicology reports. Mississippi Today reported the university named Aidan Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colorado, and Robert Strang, a junior from Atlanta; SRN News reported the university withheld the names. Mac Haddow of the American Kratom Association said some believe kratom saved their lives because it allowed them to get off of opioids. Mallory Pullman of Mississippi Poison Control said people must be careful until they know what product they are taking. Eleven states ban kratom; Mississippi requires buyers to be 21, and Oxford and Lafayette County ban it. Researchers found more than 5 million lifetime U.S. users, including more than 100,000 aged 12-17. Sean McCabe said policy changes on kratom and 7-OH products are needed in all states. Toxicology results are pending.