Each day more than 3,500 children in the United States try their first cigarette. Another 1,000 become regular, daily smokers. About a third of all youth smokers will die prematurely from a disease caused by smoking. Tar Wars was founded to respond to this growing, yet preventable, health crisis. Since being established in 1988, Tar Wars has reached more than 8 million children with its tobacco-free message.

Tar Wars website http://www.tarwars.org/online/tarwars/home.html

For the past several years, the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians Foundation has sent the Tar Wars message to fourth and fifth grade students in Nebraska, helping them to live healthier, tobacco-free lives by focusing on consequences of tobacco use and how to assess tobacco advertising.  A follow up poster contest is conducted to reinforce the Tar Wars message.  Participation is easy for you as a community physician.  Preparation requires 15 to 20 minutes of reviewing the curriculum and one hour for the classroom presentation.