Welcome to North Carolina Tar Wars

Program Overview

Tar Wars® is a pro-health, tobacco-free education program and poster contest for fourth- and fifth-graders. It was developed in 1988 by the Hall of Life at the Denver Museum of Natural History and DOC (Doctors Ought to Care). In 1999, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) acquired full ownership and operation of the program. The AAFP provides support to Tar Wars coordinators in each state. Since the program's inception, Tar Wars has been implemented in all 50 states, in 14 countries and has reached more than 8 million children worldwide.

Edward S. Campbell, MD, NCAFP Past President and Foundation Physician Trustee, was so concerned about the tobacco issue that he adopted Tar Wars as his presidential project for 1999-2000 and personally contacted elementary school principals statewide about the program. With a goal to expand the Tar Wars outreach efforts into all of our state's elementary schools over the next three to four years, the NCAFP collaborated with and gained support from the N.C. Hospital Association, the N.C. Medical Society, the N.C. Pediatric Society and the State Superintendent of Schools.

Endorsements and Support

The Tar Wars curriculum has been approved by the NC Department of Instruction for use to meet teacher requirements to provide a unit on tobacco use for fifth-graders. Additionally, Michael Ward, former State School Superintendent, has stated his endorsement and approval of Tar Wars.

North Carolina Tar Wars has been named an effective partner of the Focus on Success! North Carolina's Best program with North Carolina Public Schools.

In 2002, the NCAFP Foundation was successful in establishing a Tar Wars collaboration with the NC PTA. Tannis Nelson, NC PTA President, has indicated her full support and is assisting the NCAFP to conduct presenter-training sessions for high school cadet teachers and PTA members across the state. In 2003, the NC PTA has agreed to continue our joint efforts to spread the Tar Wars message by involving more parents and teachers in the program.

North Carolina Tar Wars is currently being supported by several organizations, including the North Carolina Hospital Association/Duke Endowment, the North Carolina Medical Society, the North Carolina Pediatric Society, and Catawba Memorial Hospital. The most important endorsement comes from the students that go through the Tar Wars program.

Tobacco Cessation

Tobacco addiction causes 440,000 deaths in the United States each year, making it the most preventable cause of death. Of the 46 million current U.S. smokers, 70 percent say they would like to quit.

Family physicians are taking a frontline approach to helping these smokers meet their goal. The AAFP's tobacco cessation program, "Ask and Act," encourages family physicians to ASK all patients about tobacco use, then to ACT to help them quit.  For more information about Ask and Act and for tobacco cessation online resources, please visit their website at  http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/publichealth/tobacco/askandact.html.