{
  "id": 9329511,
  "title": "How Dangerous Is Kratom? Drug at Ole Miss Linked to MrBeast Trainer Death",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/how-dangerous-is-kratom-drug-at-ole-miss-linked-to-mrbeast-trainer",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T12:00:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/how-dangerous-kratom-drug-ole-miss-linked-mrbeast-trainer-12476930"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two students at the University of Mississippi have died, leading authorities to investigate the role of kratom in their deaths. Kratom is an herbal substance with opioid-like properties and a high risk of addiction. The identities of the 18- and 20-year-old students, who died in a dorm and off-campus respectively, have not been released to the public. Lafayette County, where the university is located, has banned kratom products since 2021, restricting their sale and use, despite state law permitting kratom sales to those 21 and older. In 2025, kratom was linked to the death of fitness coach Tyler Wall, who died during the production of a video with MrBeast. Wall's death certificate listed his manner of death as accidental, with immediate cause attributed to Mitragynine Toxicity, a psychoactive constituent in kratom. Kratom, originating from Southeast Asia, is sold in powders, liquid shots, tea, and pills, with some users seeking relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms. The FDA warns against kratom use, and the DEA considers it a drug of concern. The Mayo Clinic states that kratom can be used as a stimulant or sedative in low and high doses, respectively, but warns of its addictive nature. Research from the University of Michigan and Texas State University indicates that kratom usage is rising, particularly among young adults, and those who use it are more likely to have addiction and mental health issues. Over 5 million people in the U.S. have used kratom, including more than 100,000 children aged 12 to 17. Usage of kratom reached an all-time high in recent years, and it is increasing in the U.S. Limited public data exists on deaths caused by kratom each year, but the FDA has linked over 35 deaths to salmonella-tainted kratom. The CDC reports 14,449 kratom-related poison center exposure reports from 2015 to 2025, highlighting kratom as a public health concern.",
  "summary": "Kratom, which comes from a plant in South East Asia, is described as unsafe and carries a risk of addiction.",
  "key_points": [
    "Two University of Mississippi students died, prompting kratom investigation.",
    "Kratom, an opioid-like herbal substance, linked to fitness coach Tyler Wall's death.",
    "Lafayette County banned kraton since 2021, despite state law permitting sales."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}