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The deaths of two University of Mississippi students this week have brought renewed attention to a substance many people may have seen for sale but know very little about — kratom.
Two Ole Miss students died Monday, September 21, in separate incidents in Oxford. One student was found unresponsive in a campus residence hall, while the other died at an off-campus residence.
Packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was found during both investigations, according to the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit. However, that fact is important to put into perspective: authorities have not determined that kratom caused or contributed to either death, and the causes of death remain under investigation. Toxicology testing is being conducted.
So, what exactly is kratom?
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. Products containing kratom are sold in a number of forms, including powders, capsules, extracts and concentrated products.
Its effects can vary depending on the amount consumed. At lower doses, kratom may produce increased energy, alertness and sociability. At higher doses, it can produce sedating and opioid-like effects.
Two of the primary compounds associated with kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called 7-OH. According to the FDA, both interact with some of the same receptors in the brain as opioid drugs.
The FDA has warned consumers about risks associated with kratom, including seizures, liver toxicity, substance use disorder and dependence. The agency says serious adverse effects have been reported and that deaths associated with kratom have occurred, although other drugs were usually involved in those cases and kratom’s contribution was not always clear.
Magee has already taken action
The issue is particularly relevant locally.
Earlier this year, the City of Magee moved to prohibit the sale of kratom within the city. By June, city officials reported visiting local businesses to inform owners of the ban, and Magee Police Chief Denis Borges later discussed the newly passed ordinance publicly.
Simpson County officials also began examining the issue after residents appeared before the Board of Supervisors and expressed concerns about kratom, its availability and its potential for addiction.
Mississippi does not have a statewide prohibition on all kratom products. State law allows cities and counties to enact and enforce their own restrictions or bans.
Oxford and Lafayette County, where the two Ole Miss students died, also prohibit kratom.
Questions remain
The discovery of kratom during both Ole Miss death investigations understandably raises questions, but those questions have not yet been answered.
The presence of a substance at the scene does not establish that it caused a death. Investigators and medical officials must rely on autopsies, toxicology testing and other evidence before determining what happened.
For now, the deaths of these two young men serve as a reason for families — particularly parents and college students — to learn more about kratom and other products that may be readily available but can still carry significant risks.
The facts surrounding the Ole Miss deaths will become clearer as investigators receive toxicology results and complete their investigations.
