Court proceedings this week revealed the causes of death for two University of Mississippi students who died on Sept. 21. Aidan Hamilton, 18, died from combined substance use that included cough syrup, while 20-year-old Robert Strang died from inhalation asphyxiation, according to an attorney involved in the case.
The case has grown into a broader investigation. Authorities allege that Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford sold Hamilton pills twice before his death, while Strang purchased his elsewhere. After the deaths, a confidential informant bought kratom pills at the same store, leading to a raid that seized 500 kratom units and THC products. A judge ordered Yahya Mosleh detained, while Islam Mosleh was released on $20,000 unsecured bond.
For families here on the Suncoast, the case is a reminder that kratom and THC products are widely available and loosely regulated, sometimes just steps from college campuses. Knowing what these products are, and talking with the young people in your life about what they’re being offered, matters more than ever.
What do you think should change about how these products are sold near campuses? Let us know in the comments.
