As a young Alaskan committed to building healthy communities, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in reducing tobacco use, especially among youth. But let’s be clear: this fight is far from over, and recent decisions in Washington, D.C. threaten to erase the hard-won gains we’ve achieved.
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in both Alaska and across the U.S. It kills nearly 500,000 Americans every year, drives up health care costs by more than $241 billion, and burdens taxpayers through Medicare and Medicaid. In Alaska alone, tobacco-related health care expenses top $509 million annually, including $100 million in Medicaid costs.
Even more alarming is how aggressively the tobacco industry continues to target my generation. E-cigarettes, sold in candy-like flavors and packed with dangerously high nicotine, have addicted more than 1.6 million kids nationwide. In Alaska, 17% of high schoolers use them. These devices disrupt school, harm developing brains, and threaten a lifetime of addiction.
Now is the time to strengthen prevention programs, not gut them. Yet the federal government just eliminated the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and drastically cut staffing at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. These agencies lead our national response to tobacco addiction. Without them, our state loses vital resources, and our communities pay the price.
I’ve seen the impact of these programs in my own life. As a recent graduate of South Anchorage High School, I watched friends and classmates wrestle with nicotine addiction, and I saw how prevention and quitline services made a difference. In FY 2024, Alaska received nearly $1.3 million in federal tobacco prevention and cessation funding. These dollars support the Alaska Quit Line, nicotine replacement therapy and school- and community-based education efforts, including those tailored to Alaska Native youth.
These aren’t faceless government initiatives. They are life-saving investments. They help people quit. They stop kids from starting. They prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. And they reduce the crushing cost of health care.
The FDA also plays a crucial role in keeping illegal, youth-targeted products off shelves. While only 39 e-cigarette products are authorized for sale, thousands of unauthorized devices, like some with built-in video games and some with the same amount of nicotine as 20 packs of cigarettes or more remain widely available, especially from foreign manufacturers. The FDA needs the staffing and funding to enforce the law and protect our kids.
Alaska has a champion in Sen. Lisa Murkowski. She has long worked to address youth tobacco use and lead efforts against the explosion of e-cigarettes. Her leadership is urgently needed again to restore funding and protect the programs that safeguard public health.
Alaskans know this isn’t a partisan issue, it’s a practical one. These programs save lives, support families, and strengthen our communities. As someone just beginning my adult life, I urge Congress to stand up for public health, reject these cuts, and recommit to protecting every child’s future.
Anna Kardashyan is a graduate of South Anchorage High School and now attends Stanford University as a first-year undergraduate student.