OXFORD, Miss.—Two University of Mississippi students have died, the Lafayette County Coroner confirmed Tuesday, Sept. 22. Officials said the cases are being treated as separate death investigations.
Investigators with the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit disclosed that packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was found during the investigations. However, authorities have not confirmed whether kratom or any other substance contributed to the deaths.
The University of Mississippi said it remains unclear how either student died. A dispatch recording obtained by WMC indicated that emergency personnel were called to Stewart Hall on the Ole Miss campus around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21. The call reported a “possible overdose,” and first responders initially found the individual unresponsive with CPR in progress. Details about the second student’s death have not been released.
The university expressed condolences in a statement, calling the losses "heartbreaking” and urging the community to refrain from speculation or circulating unverified information about the deaths. Officials confirmed no additional student fatalities have occurred.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who highlighted the risks of drug overdoses during a recent Narcan training for Ole Miss students, reiterated the dangers of counterfeit pills. In a statement issued after the deaths, Fitch’s office said, "One Pill Can Kill is not just a slogan. It’s a fact." Fitch added that her office has coordinated with organizations like the Magee Center and HarborPath to bolster resources aimed at preventing overdose fatalities.
The city of Oxford recently expanded access to Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, by installing a free vending machine for community use. Officials continue to work with law enforcement and university personnel to address drug-related risks.
The investigations are ongoing.