Two University of Mississippi students died on September 21, 2026, with packages of synthetic kratom products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine found at the scene.

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The Food and Drug Administration previously placed BPC-157 and more than a dozen injectable peptides on a restricted list due to potential health risks, including contamination, allergic reactions, and tumor growth.

Food and Drug Administration staff scientists opposed easing peptide restrictions, concluding that existing data lacks sufficient evidence to establish safety or efficacy for compounds like BPC-157.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned that unregulated gray market peptides manufactured in China and other foreign countries remain widely available for online purchase on platforms like TikTok.

Synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine products are sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops under commercial brand names including Kama, Happie Tabs, Fruity Perks, and Hydroxie.

Authorities have not confirmed that synthetic kratom or 7-hydroxymitragynine contributed to the deaths of the two University of Mississippi students.

U.S. poison control centers recorded 165 inquiries regarding adverse exposure to 7-hydroxymitragynine between January 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026, with a majority requiring medical treatment.