The Tar Wars program, now operated nationally by the American Academy of Family Physicians, was founded in response to the growing numbers of youth smokers. Currently in the United States, more than 4.5 million children younger than 18 are regular smokers and more than 4,000 children each day will try a cigarette for the first time. An additional 15.5 million children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes.

By educating forth- and fifth-grade students, the Tar Wars program aims to stem the rising number of new smokers. The Tar Wars Program has two components:

• A one-hour interactive in-class presentation for fourth- or fifth-grade students brings health care professionals into Texas classrooms.
• A poster contest reinforces the Tar Wars mission and allows participating students to share their tobacco-free message.

The program focuses on the short-term, image-based consequences of tobacco use and how to think critically about tobacco advertising. A follow-up poster contest at the school, state and national levels is conducted to reinforce the Tar Wars message.

Tar Wars reaches approximately 500,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students per year nationwide. Tar Wars also provides health care professionals, school personnel, and community members the opportunity to form coalitions that share the common goal of discouraging tobacco use among children.