Alaska's Division of Public Health declined to release statewide results from its 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, citing low participation and incomplete geographic coverage. School districts that participated and had sufficient response rates will still receive their district-level findings, health officials said.
The decision stems from a sharp decline in survey participation over recent years. The response rate fell from 62 percent in 2017 to 29 percent in 2025, making statewide conclusions unreliable, according to the division. In addition, schools from fewer than half of Alaska's boroughs and census areas participated in the survey, leaving significant geographic gaps.
DPH Director Lindsey Kato said the 2025 statewide results do not adequately represent high school students across Alaska. "Using these results to make statewide conclusions could present an inaccurate picture of what youth in Alaska are experiencing," she said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that Alaska's data should be "interpreted with caution," according to the division.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted biennially with CDC support, has been run in Alaska for roughly two decades. The division said it relies on the survey data for program development and grant applications. The agency said it is preparing for the 2027 survey cycle and committed to working with partners to increase participation.