NEW hope for smokers having difficulty in quitting will arrive in Bermuda at the end of the month.

A representative of the globally renowned Carr clinic will fly in from Toronto and offer five group sessions, each lasting five hours.

The visit has been made possible by the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association (BPA), in association with the Argus Group, TB Cancer & Health Association and asthma group Open Airways.

The organisers have subsidised the event, so that a place at one of the sessions will now cost $170 when it would normally cost $350.

The Carr method of quitting smoking was developed by former chain smoker Allen Carr in 1983. Now, there are 53 clinics in 23 countries who see more than 55,000 smokers every year.

Mr. Carr's books on quitting smoking have sold over six million copies and topped best-seller lists in nine European countries.

Mr. Carr's clinics have attracted superstars like Sir Anthony Hopkins, Julie Christie, Kenneth Branagh and Johnny Cash.

"The key to finding it easy and enjoyable to quit smoking and stay happily quit is to remove the desire to smoke," said Damian O'Hara, who heads up Carr's operations in North America. "With no desire to smoke, it doesn't take willpower not to do so.

"We help smokers to understand and remove their desire to smoke."

Such a philosophy has helped the Carr clinic achieve impressive results. According to a survey by the Austrian Ministry of Health, 63 per cent of clients were still smoke-free a year after attending the event. This compared favourably with other methods such as nicotine replacement products or willpower. Peter French, of the BPA ? himself a former smoker who quit using the Carr method ? said: "We are thrilled that the Carr organisation has agreed to come here to work with local smokers who want to quit.

"It really can be surprisingly easy to stop smoking, but only with the correct mental approach. Carr teaches smokers how to approach the smoking problem properly."

The sessions in Bermuda will use a cognitive therapy, the "talking cure" developed by Aaron Beck. Those attending are welcome to smoke during the session.

The sessions will take place on Sunday, May 23 at 1 p.m., and from Tuesday, May 25 through Friday, May 28, at 9 a.m. For more information, or to book a place, call Peter French at the BPA on 333-2266.