MU students highlight drug use among student body following Ole Miss death investigation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
University of Missouri students report drug use is “prevalent” among the student body as conversations surrounding college drug use grow following a death investigation at the University of Mississippi.
Two students at Ole Miss were found dead in their off-campus homes Monday. They were identified as 20-year-old Robert Strang from Atlanta and 18-year-old Aidan Hamilton from Colorado. Authorities reported that the unregulated drug kratom was found nearby, with student groups circulating warnings about a new fentanyl-like synthetic opioid called cychlorphine.
The University of Missouri Interfraternity Council later notified students about the risks of drug use in a Facebook post in support of the University of Mississippi Interfraternity Council.
“The Mizzou Interfraternity Council Stands with the Ole Miss Interfraternity Council, the University of Mississippi community, and everyone affected by the events that occurred in Oxford this weekend,” the Facebook post said. “We have a responsibility to look out for one another and to take seriously the risks that can come with unknown or counterfeit substances.”
Authorities in Mississippi are yet to say whether kratom and cychlorphine had a role in the deaths.
ABC 17 News spoke with around a dozen University of Missouri students, with around half reporting they have seen a culture of drug use at the school. One student even shared that a friend who began using while at the University of Missouri later died of a cocaine overdose after college.
“The main one is cocaine, and it’s is very prevalent within like off-campus, like when you’re out at a bar in the bathroom or something like that and people are either offering it to you or asking you for it,” the student said.
“Kratom is very popular I would say, around downtown with students,” another student said. “It used to be like 18+ and they don’t even check for that, so if you just walk into the store and look like somewhat young adult, they’ll just give it to you.”
Both students added that they have seen several smoke shops and convenience stores downtown continue to sell kratom and 7-OH despite recent state government crackdowns.
Cychlorphine has gained notoriety for being more than 10 times stronger than fentanyl and has been increasingly seen in domestic Midwest drug markets. It also has no smell or taste and does not appear on fentanyl test strips.
“There’s an increased risk of overdose from people that may be using those drugs,” Boone County Public Health and Human Services Public Health Information Specialist Austin Krohn said. “Important to note, Narcan still works, but it may require additional doses and maybe up to more than two that usually come in the packages.”
According to the City of Columbia, Narcan, which stops opioid overdoses, can be found 24/7 in distribution boxes across the city, including at the Columbia Fire stations, the local health department and the Activity & Recreation Center.
University of Missouri sophomores Neer Patel and Grady Wright are working to bring awareness to drug education and safety through the Atlas Health Equity Group. The group hopes to lead state initiatives on naloxone access and public health education, including handing out free boxes of naloxone on campus.
“I think as of yesterday, we gave out 3,500 units and then today we’re planning on giving out another 1000 units,” Wright said. “We want to keep 500 in storage so we can hand that out to the bigger Greek life around campus.”
The naloxone is supplied by the University of Missouri St. Louis Addiction Science Team.
“I think it’s a misconception of naloxone that people think if they have it, they’re considered drug users, but naloxone is not for yourself, because if you’re overdosing, then you’re not going to be able to use naloxone, it’s just in case something ever does happen,” Patel said.
Both students add that their work comes from their own experiences of seeing overdoses while living in Columbia and Kansas City.
“Last year I saw someone overdose outside of the student center, which was kind of crazy because it takes so long for EMT to respond even when they’re so close, so that kind of prompted me to kind of get on it more for sure,” Wright said.
According to the University, naloxone can be found at the Wellness Resource Center inside the Student Center.
Students ABC 17 News spoke to added that naloxone can be found in some dorm halls.
“You talk to one of the members there, they can get you in contact with one of the people there that is able to do big group orders of Narcan as well as single ones,” one student said.
“The Mizzou IFC encourages every member of our community to educate themselves about overdose prevention, know where to access Narcan, and take action when a fellow student or brother may be in danger,” the University of Missouri IFC said in its Facebook post.
Krohn adds that 911 should be on the line during an emergency scenario before naloxone is given and to follow instructions throughout the treatment.
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