Deadline for the NJ State Poster Contest April 12, 2006 

Are you ready to join in the fight against tobacco?  

   Become a Tar Wars Volunteer  

Each day more than 6,000 children smoke for the first time, and another 3,000 become daily smokers. Annually, these statistics add up to more than 1 million new, under-aged smokers.  Approximately one-third of these children will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses.

Tar Wars was founded in response to this growing, yet preventable, health crisis. Targeting fourth- and fifth-grade students, this award winning, youth oriented tobacco-free education program and poster contest takes an innovative approach to teaching tobacco prevention. Tar Wars 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.

The New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians is joining the American Academy of Family Physicians in supporting expansion of this educational program to every fourth- and fifth-grade classroom in the United States.

State Poster Contest:  All fourth and fifth graders are eligible to participate in the state poster contest.  Posters must be original and emphasis the positive aspects of not smoking.  New Jersey is proud to have had national winners in the top ten finalists for the last five years.

The deadline for the New Jersey poster contest is April 12, 2006. Posters must arrive in the NJAFP office by that date.  State entries will be judged in mid to late April.  Winners will be notified in the beginning of May. 

Tar Wars 2005-2006 Program Guide and Materials