Two University of Mississippi Students Die Amid Suspected Kratom Overdose
Identities of two young men, Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang, released as authorities investigate the role of the herbal extract.
Two University of Mississippi students, identified as 18-year-old freshman Aidan Hamilton and junior Robert Strang, 20, died on Tuesday in Oxford, Mississippi. The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit confirmed that packaged kratom was found during both investigations into the students' deaths.
Hamilton, who was from Colorado, was found unresponsive in Stewart Hall, where emergency responders attempted CPR. Strang was discovered deceased at an off-campus residence on Van Buren Avenue. The university confirmed the deaths, urging the community not to speculate on unconfirmed information.
Kratom, an unregulated herbal extract, can act as a stimulant in small doses and an opioid in larger quantities. It is reportedly sold by an unnamed retail store. Authorities have not yet definitively stated whether kratom or other substances were the cause of the students' deaths, emphasizing that local, state, and federal partners are collaborating to determine the facts.
The university and law enforcement are working to provide answers and extend condolences to the families of Hamilton and Strang, requesting privacy during this difficult time. They also reminded students that Narcan, an overdose reversal medication, is available in vending machines across campus.