South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative

Prevention

Rage Against the Haze is South Carolina's youth movement against tobacco use and the tobacco Industry's targeting of youth. It's a movement for teens, by teens.

RAGE teens want to spread the word about their movement and the anti-tobacco use message in their own communities and beyond. Being a part of this initiative gives youth an opportunity to take part in community service as well as learn about youth empowerment.

Sponsored by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, RAGE is a program for teens ages 13 to 17 that started in 2001.

What are some types of RAGE activities?

• In 2006 and 2007, RAGE toured South Carolina visiting the hottest high school football rivalries in the state. At each tour stop, Ragers explained how the new Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention law affects their peers and got crowds pumped up about football! They educated folks on how youth are empowering each other and making a difference in their communities.  “Friday Night Rage,” which featured 13 stops throughout the state, recruited more than 1,700 new Rage members to the movement.
• Camp RAGE, held in November 2006, was a retreat and youth summit for core RAGE members at Camp Greenville in Greenville, S.C. These teen leaders took part in team building activities, learned how to make a difference in their own communities, met other teens from across the state, and learned how they can empower their peers. More than 30 teens were trained to be Rage Ambassadors.

Exciting events are in the works for the 2007-2008 school year such as the Ambassador Summit on February 18 at Edventure in Columbia. The RAGE website will be updated when more details are available.

Are there any specific requirements to join RAGE?

Teens just have to be ages 13 to 17 and be interested in making a positive difference in their communities. It is free and easy to join by visiting www.rageagainsthehaze.com.

For more information on upcoming activities, visit www.rageagainstthehaze.com.

Questions? Contact Mary-Kathryn Craft at (803) 545-4466 or craftmk@dhec.sc.gov