Senator Dan Sullivan is ramping up efforts to combat Alaska’s growing fentanyl crisis with the launch of the statewide campaign “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska.” The initiative aims to raise awareness about the deadly opioid, which was responsible for a record number of overdose deaths in the state last year.
According to preliminary data, Alaska saw a more than 40% increase in drug overdose deaths in 2023—the highest percentage increase of any state. Nearly all of those deaths were linked to fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid. Nationally, fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for young adults aged 18-45, a grim statistic that underscores the urgency of the crisis.
Sullivan emphasized the devastating impact the epidemic is having on young Alaskans. “We have had the highest overdose rates of any state in the country for the last two years,” Sullivan said during an interview with KSRM. “More Alaskans are dying from fentanyl overdose per capita than anywhere else, and it’s a lot of our young people. A tiny bit of this fentanyl—if you don’t know it’s in a drug or even in marijuana—it can kill you. And that’s what’s happening.”
To address the crisis, One Pill Can Kill – Alaska provides a toolkit with resources, prevention strategies, and information about treatment options. The campaign will focus on educating Alaskans about the origins of fentanyl, its distribution methods, and its devastating effects on communities. It will also highlight ways to report criminal activity related to fentanyl trafficking.
A key component of the campaign is a peer-to-peer public service announcement (PSA) contest, encouraging high school students to create and share messages about the dangers of fentanyl. Sullivan said the idea came from young Alaskans themselves, who believe messages from their peers will be more effective in reaching other teens.
“We’ve been talking to high school students, and they told us, ‘Senator, it’s great that you’re spreading awareness, but this would be better if it were young Alaskans talking to young Alaskans,'”Sullivan said. “So we launched a campaign for high school students to put together PSAs warning their peers that they’re playing Russian roulette with their lives.”
Sullivan says the initiative has already seen significant engagement. “We’ve got hundreds, maybe even thousands of high school kids working on these PSAs. Once we choose the best ones, we’ll work with radio and TV stations to broadcast them statewide,” he said. “If this campaign saves even one life, it will be worth it.”
The campaign is part of a broader effort to fight back against Alaska’s fentanyl epidemic, which continues to claim lives at an alarming rate. With overdose deaths at an all-time high, Sullivan hopes this initiative will empower communities to take action and prevent further tragedy.
For more information about One Pill Can Kill – Alaska, including resources and how to get involved, visit https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/onepill or contact the senator’s office.