Oxford mayor warns kratom is 'rolling the dice on death' as fears linger over Ole Miss deaths

Oxford, Mississippi, Mayor Robyn Tannehill issued a stark warning Saturday about the dangers of kratom and other "gas station drugs" after packaged kratom was recovered during investigations into the deaths of two Ole Miss students."To take kratom is really rolling the dice on death..." Tannehill told "Fox & Friends Weekend.""So our challenge right now is to make our young people understand the dangers of these drugs."TWO OLE MISS STUDENTS FOUND DEAD AS PACKAGED KRATOM IS RECOVERED AT TWO SITES: OFFICIALSThe deaths of two University of Mississippi students have raised fresh questions about the potential health risks of kratom.(Getty Images)Tannehill said Oxford's city board passed a law prohibiting the sale of kratom at gas stations seven years ago, and that local authorities have been aware of the substance's dangers for some time."This is a substance that our police chief identified as dangerous in 2019, and we immediately took action," she said."So these investigations are ongoing.

We are always trying to find the bad actors in our community that are choosing to sell these things to kids."The two students were found dead Monday, Sept.21, in separate locations — one on campus and the other off campus.

Although their causes of death remain undetermined, narcotics detectives are involved in both investigations.Authorities say, if the reports find fentanyl, a special Mississippi law can be used to target the seller.THE FRAT OMERTÀ: WHISTLEBLOWER WARNS OF ‘CODE OF SILENCE’ AFTER OLE MISS DEATHS, ALLEGED PENN STATE COKE RINGRobert Strang and Aidan Hamilton in a split image provided by their families.(Strang family, Kathleen Hamilton/Facebook)The news has triggered fears among many Ole Miss students.

One student, speaking on "The Faulkner Focus" Thursday, said some students are cautious of what they eat or drink as fears mount on campus.Tannehill, however, attempted to assuage some of those fears."Oxford is an extremely safe town," she said."It's a place t...