My liberal-leaning friends and family members, and even a few conservatives, are struggling with the current presidential administration. In discussions I find that a bright spot to which most can agree concerns some potential community health benefits that may be achieved by the administration.

I considered backing RFK Jr. during the last election but did not do so. I wanted to avoid increasing the chances of public health occurrences like the measles outbreak currently playing out in Texas. I support wide adoption of proven one-and-done (or once every couple of decades) immunizations. Our policy makers should, in my opinion, differentiate between these types of established immunizations (measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, etc.) and emergent immunizations that are more seasonal/annual (flu, COVID).

RFK Jr. was confirmed as Secretary of Health on Feb. 13. Setting aside potential concerns related to immunization schedules for the moment, consider the serious public health challenges related to food and drugs that he may be able to help us address. As an easy example, why did the US FDA only in 2025 ban red dye number 3 from our food supply, 30 years after its ban in Europe? Despite cancer concerns our federal government continued to allow this substance to be used in foods heavily marketed to our children.

Faster action was warranted in that instance. And more action directed to our food supply, particularly as it impacts children and establishes potential life-long ill health, is also warranted. A review of the 2023 Youth Health Survey conducted by the Washington Department of Health, the most recent data it has available, illustrates the impact that our food supply, as well as exercise and screen time habits, have on children in Jefferson County. It found that of 12th graders in Jefferson County:

•42% were overweight, with 26% of those being obese;

•75% drank sugar sweetened beverages in the past week;

•78% consumed less than the recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables;

•52% checked social media several times/day or once an hour;

•63% utilized three hours or more of daily screen time, excluding school work;

•76% partook of less than the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day; and

•In the preceding 30 days, 26% used alcohol, 23% used marijuana, 7% used cigarettes, and 19% used nicotine- or THC-vaping devices.

RFK Jr. advocates for combating the chronic disease epidemic that is driven by foot and diet. I believe that federal action to reduce the availability and marketing of unhealthy ultra-processed foods, sugar sweetened beverages, and nicotine- and THC-containing products to our youth is warranted and could result from his tenure.

RFK Jr. is also focused on our nation’s mental health crisis and the associated dependence on prescription medications. The CDC reported that about 13% of children ages 3 to 17 had been diagnosed with a current mental or behavioral health condition during the period of 2018 to 2019. This too is a problem in Jefferson County. The Youth Health Survey referenced above found that of 8th graders in Jefferson in 2023: 29% reported feeling sad or hopeless; 21% considered attempting suicide; and that 17% had actually attempted suicide. Clearly our youth are collectively not OK.

I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years and have a lot of respect for rank-and-file scientists that work at FDA. But our “big pharma” industry is too closely tied to FDA decision-makers. Those ties and related conflicts of interest need to be examined.

We also need to review and consider regulating the marketing practices of the pharmaceutical industry. In my role as General Counsel at my small biopharma company, I was in charge of marketing compliance. I was fortunate to have the backing of a CEO that would, after testing my recommendations, support me in enforcing the lines that I drew to ensure legal compliance. The pressure on pharmaceutical marketing staff to increase sales volumes, and the financial incentives for them to do so, is intense. I observed that financial ties between the pharmaceutical industry and the physicians that are empowered to prescribe their products definitely feed prescriptions that may not otherwise occur.

In general, I lean toward less regulation of our lives by government. But when food and pharmaceutical industry practices drive poor health practices in our youth, setting them up for lives of chronic illness, regulatory change is warranted. And this may indeed be one silver lining resulting from our current presidential administration. Now, can we just get back paper straws that don’t shed microplastics? A topic for another day.

Marcia Kelbon is an attorney and engineer based in Quilcene.