Two University of Mississippi students died this week, sparking fresh alarm over kratom’s health risks.
The deaths occurred at separate campus locations on Monday, and authorities recovered packaged kratom purchased from a retail store in both investigations, according to a Lafayette County Metro Narcotics news release shared by the Oxford Police Department.
Fox News senior medical analyst said kratom acts as a stimulant at low doses, potentially causing heart arrhythmia, and as an opioid at high doses, which can suppress breathing.
Jessica Steinman, chief clinical officer at No Matter What Recovery, said kratom is sold in stores and online as an energy booster, leading users to consume large amounts and misuse the product.
Health Risks and Warning Signs
Steinman warned that slow or shallow breathing and extreme drowsiness indicate serious sedation that can compromise respiration and require immediate medical care.
She added that abrupt cessation after regular use may trigger withdrawal symptoms and, in rare cases, seizures, urging anyone experiencing a seizure to seek emergency treatment.
The expert noted that kratom’s interaction with opioid receptors can produce a sedating high that numbs stress and anxiety, making it appealing to college students seeking energy or relief.
Industry Response
Dallas Vasquez, CEO and co‑founder of Mitra9 Brands, distinguished botanical kratom extracts containing trace 7‑OH from products that add or concentrate 7‑OH, a potent opioid‑related compound.
Vasquez said the FDA has identified enhanced 7‑OH products as a particular concern and the DEA is considering scheduling actions for related substances, and he emphasized that Mitra9’s offerings use natural leaf extract rather than isolated synthetic compounds.
He stressed that product labels advise adults 21 and older to follow dosage limits, avoid use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and not combine the product with alcohol or other substances, noting that the market is not uniform and bad actors must be removed.
Vasquez called for stronger national standards on testing, labeling, potency limits and age restrictions, stating that consumers deserve to know exactly what is in their kratom products.
Melissa Rudy, senior health editor at Fox News Digital, can be reached at melissa.rudy@fox.com for story tips.
