Stories
US College Campuses Face Deadly New Drug Threat
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News18•05-10-2026, 15:27
US College Campuses Face Deadly New Drug Threat
- •American college campuses are facing a growing crisis with dangerous new drugs like ketamine, fentanyl, kratom, and xylazine replacing traditional alcohol and weed.
- •Students often consume these substances unknowingly as lethal chemicals are mixed into their drugs without their knowledge.
- •A shocking lawsuit at Cornell University involving a ketamine overdose and alleged sexual assault has sparked nationwide concern.
- •The tragic deaths of two students at the University of Mississippi with kratom-like pills in their possession have further escalated safety fears.
- •Universities are increasingly providing overdose reversal medicines like Narcan and drug testing strips to protect students from fatal overdoses.
Key Questions Answered
Campuses are promoting overdose reversal medicines like Narcan and testing strips because students increasingly face potent and rapidly evolving drugs containing unknown, hazardous chemical mixtures like fentanyl, ketamine, and xylazine.
A sophomore proposed making overdose medicine available in student housing after worrying about party drug safety, which was followed just days later by a student overdosing on ketamine and a lawsuit alleging a woman was gang-raped during the party.
Packets of kratom-like pills were found in the possession of the two students who died within an hour of each other last month at the University of Mississippi.
