South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative

About

The South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative (TFC) is a statewide assembly of the leading health organizations, community coalitions, and businesses committed to reducing the toll of tobacco use in South Carolina by providing resources and information on tobacco related policies to advocates, lawmakers and concerned citizens.

TFC was formed in 2001 to serve as a forum and voice for reducing the toll of tobacco use in South Carolina. TFC promotes a coordinated effort among its member organizations to prevent tobacco use and its consequences while maintaining economic viability of all our communities. Our advocacy and education efforts reach across the state through our staff’s work and the work of community-based coalitions who receive TFC grant funds.

The purposes of the Collaborative are:

• To provide leadership in the development of state, county and local tobacco policies and actions which promote an environment that is safer for youth and adults.
• To provide and facilitate meetings of interested organizations and communities.
• To promote opportunities for current and future organizations to examine research, trends, legislative issues, concerns and ideas, and to generate solutions that will promote tobacco-safe communities.
• To promote and support advocacy for tobacco-safe communities among the membership, at regional, state and national levels.

TFC ’s partnerships with coalitions are utilized to address local tobacco issues and promote positive public health policies at the community level. With an adult smoking rate of 22%, a youth smoking rate of 18% and 13% of pregnant women smoking, tobacco is taking a terrible toll in our state. By taking measures such as increasing the state cigarette tax, eliminating secondhand smoke from workplaces, preventing tobacco use initiation among youth and promoting cessation among youth and adults, the toll can be significantly lowered.