Law enforcement officials in Oxford, Mississippi reported finding packaged kratom at two separate locations where University of Mississippi students were discovered dead on Monday. While authorities have not confirmed that kratom contributed to the deaths, they are cautioning against its use due to potential risks. Both incidents are being treated as individual cases by local, state, and federal investigators.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Two University of Mississippi students died this week and packaged kratom was found during the separate death investigations, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
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officials → die → investigations
Authorities said they have not confirmed that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death.
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kratom → say → death
Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said Tuesday that it has no information that the two deaths are linked.
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deaths → say → information
“However, packaged Kratom sold from a retail store was found during both investigations,” it said in a statement.
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it → package → statement
“Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage everyone to avoid kratom and any other medication or substance that was not prescribed to you or obtained from a trusted, regulated source.
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that → encourage → source
The Ole Miss students have not been publicly identified by authorities.
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students → identify → authorities
Both were found dead Monday; one on campus, and the other in the city of Oxford, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said.
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Tannehill → find → Oxford
“The University is heartbroken by the recent loss of two students and extends our condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time,” the university said.
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university → heartbroken → time
The deaths, which are under investigation by local, state and federal authorities, are being treated as separate inquiries, according to Lafayette County Metro Narcotics.
Kratom, the name of a product and the Southeast Asia tree from which it comes, has gained popularity in the U.S. as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence.
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it → treat → pain
It is sometimes sold at gas stations or online.
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It → sell → stations
Kratom can produce either stimulating or sedating effects, depending on the dosage taken, and can produce psychotic symptoms, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Kratom → produce → Administration
It’s not federally banned, but the DEA lists it as a “drug and chemical of concern.”
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DEA → ban → concern
The Mayo Clinic calls kratom unsafe and ineffective and says it’s been linked to a small number of deaths, but that “nearly all deaths from kratom also involved other drugs or substances.”
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deaths → call → drugs
Kratom has been banned by local laws in Oxford, Mississippi, but can be bought in surrounding counties, said Capt. Alex Fauver, commander of the Metro Narcotics unit.
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Fauver → ban → unit
“We have a lot of problems with the kratom and people on it, it has no medical use,” he said in a phone interview.
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he → have → interview
Kratom was found at each student’s residence, he said.
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he → find → residence
There have been no other student deaths and no other students or members of the community impacted, Fauver and the university said.
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Fauver → impact → community
Authorities urged people not to speculate, and acknowledged that there was unverified information being spread online.
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Authorities → urge → people
Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said there was a “significant amount of concern, speculation, and misinformation circulating.”
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Narcotics → say → concern
The Aporia
