Summary (tl;dr)

Two University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) students have died in separate incidents, prompting ongoing investigations by local and state law enforcement, with a possible overdose being a focus and packaged kratom found at the scenes.

Essential Background

The University of Mississippi has a history of addressing substance abuse issues, with "The William Magee Institute" established in honor of an Ole Miss student who died from an accidental drug overdose in 2013, aiming to provide education, research, and support to combat similar experiences. More recently, the Mississippi Attorney General's office had previously trained Ole Miss students to administer Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, indicating an existing awareness of potential overdose risks on campus.

The Full Story

On Monday, September 21, emergency responders were dispatched to Stewart Hall on the Ole Miss campus following a report of a possible overdose, where a person was found unresponsive and CPR was underway. Subsequently, two University of Mississippi students were confirmed dead by the Lafayette County coroner on Tuesday, September 22, with autopsies being scheduled. One student was found at Stewart Hall, while the second student was located at an off-campus residence. While authorities have not officially confirmed an overdose as the cause of either death, packaged kratom, sold from a retail store, was reportedly found during both separate investigations. However, officials explicitly stated they do not have confirmed information indicating kratom or any other substance contributed to either death. The university has expressed condolences and urged the community to avoid speculation and unverified information as investigations continue.

Why It Matters

The tragic deaths of two students have deeply affected the Ole Miss community and are raising significant concerns about student safety, mental health, and substance use on college campuses. The presence of kratom at the investigation sites, even without confirmed links to the deaths, has prompted authorities to issue a cautionary statement, encouraging individuals to avoid non-prescribed substances. This event underscores the ongoing challenges universities face in addressing drug-related issues and highlights the importance of available support services like the University Counseling Center and UMatter for students.

Geographic Location

• Stewart Hall, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States (location of reported possible overdose and discovery of one student)
• Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States (location where the second student was found deceased at an off-campus residence; site of ongoing investigations)