A new report from the Alaska Department of Health reveals that more than 144,000 Alaskans, including over 9,000 high school students, are at risk for poor health due to tobacco or nicotine use. The report is an annual update of key tobacco prevention and control trends from state data sources. The results help raise awareness about the toll tobacco continues to take on the health and well-being of Alaskans.
The report shows that 16% of Alaska adults currently smoke cigarettes, down from 27% in 1997.
Smokeless tobacco use has held steady at 6%, well above the national average of 2%.
While over half of adult smokers tried to quit, only 10% managed to stay tobacco-free for three or more months.
Among Alaska Native adults, smoking dropped from 41% in 2013 to 29% in 2022.
Smoking during pregnancy also declined significantly, with more than half of the women quitting after becoming pregnant.
Youth vaping is a growing concern, with 17% of high school students currently using e-cigarettes and 38% having tried them. According to the report, many teens get vape products from peers or family members.
The report highlights ongoing efforts to curb tobacco use and reduce its health impacts statewide.