In Alaska, if an individual delivers an illicit drug that results in another person's death, they can be charged under the state's second-degree murder statute. This is outlined in Alaska Statute § 11.41.110(a)(2), which states that a person commits second-degree murder if they "knowingly engage in conduct that results in the death of another person under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life."

Additionally, Alaska has enacted legislation to address the rising number of illicit drug poisoning deaths, particularly those involving fentanyl. In 2024, a new law was implemented that holds drug distributors or manufacturers liable for second-degree murder if a person dies as a result of using the drugs they provided. 

These legal provisions enable prosecutors to pursue severe charges against individuals involved in the distribution of controlled substances that lead to fatal overdoses, reflecting Alaska's commitment to combating the opioid epidemic and related fatalities.

This statute is often invoked in cases involving drug-related deaths if prosecutors can demonstrate that the distributor of the illicit drugs acted with extreme indifference to human life by supplying substances that led to a fatal overdose.