Kratom Linked to Deaths of University of Mississippi Students

Two students at the University of Mississippi have died, and authorities are investigating whether the unregulated herbal supplement kratom may be connected to their deaths. The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit reported finding packaged kratom during both death investigations on the university's campus in Oxford.

No official cause of death has been confirmed, and university officials are urging the community against speculation. The substance was reportedly sold from an unnamed retail store, and it remains unclear if kratom or other substances played a role. "We encourage our community not to speculate about the circumstances or repeat information that has not been officially confirmed," said Dr. Shawnboda Mead, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia and is legally sold across much of the United States in smoke shops, convenience stores, and online. Available in powder, capsule, liquid, and tablet forms, it has grown into a significant industry, estimated by the American Kratom Association to be a $1.5 billion-a-year market.

The substance is often marketed as a natural remedy for pain relief, anxiety, depression, and opioid addiction. Experts, however, note that kratom's compounds interact with the same opioid receptors in the brain targeted by drugs like oxycodone. At low doses, it can act as a stimulant, increasing alertness and energy. At higher doses, it can induce pain relief, sedation, and a sense of calm, leading some to refer to it as "gas station heroin."

Concerns are particularly focused on concentrated kratom products containing 7-OH, a psychoactive compound found naturally in trace amounts. Critics argue that the risks associated with these products escalate dramatically. A significant factor contributing to its popularity is the lack of robust regulation; because kratom is sold as an herbal supplement, it does not undergo the rigorous safety testing required for prescription drugs and is not mandated to carry warning labels.

Regulatory Landscape and Health Impacts

The regulatory status of kratom varies significantly across the United States. In July 2025, the Trump administration took steps toward banning 7-OH, recommending its classification as a Schedule I controlled substance, a designation shared by drugs like heroin and MDMA. However, a formal decision has yet to be made.

In the absence of a federal ban, individual states have enacted their own rules. Several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Vermont, and Louisiana, have effectively outlawed kratom by classifying its active ingredients as controlled substances. Other states, such as Texas, Utah, and Arizona, have chosen to regulate potency, while Florida and Kentucky have moved to ban concentrated 7-OH products.

This patchwork of regulations means that products legal in one state may be illegal in another. Reports from poison control centers in the US show a substantial increase in calls related to kratom. Between 2015 and 2025, these calls reportedly jumped by approximately 1,200 percent, from 258 to over 3,400 in 2025 alone. Many of these incidents are attributed to kratom being mixed with alcohol or other drugs, as well as the increasing availability of more concentrated products.

The primary psychoactive compounds in kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), interact with opioid receptors in the brain. This interaction can lead to stimulant-like effects such as alertness and energy, as well as sedative effects including relaxation and pain relief. Potential serious side effects include confusion, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Chronic use can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Kratom's effects on the body extend to the respiratory system, where its opioid-like properties can cause respiratory depression, leading to dangerously slow or shallow breathing. This can result in oxygen deprivation, potentially damaging vital organs and leading to fatal outcomes.

Cardiovascular effects include a potential for rapid heart rate due to its stimulant-like properties. Severe kratom poisonings have been associated with cardiac dysrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, which can impair the heart's ability to pump blood effectively and, in severe cases, lead to cardiac arrest.

Furthermore, kratom has been linked to liver injuries. Case reports have documented jaundice and acute liver injury, sometimes progressing to acute liver failure, which can also be fatal.