Time to showcase another excellent THR Superstar! This series is dedicated to showing appreciation to those who work hard to stand up for Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR).
This interview is with Kevin Crowley who you will see about a lot on Twitter / X promoting safer nicotine products and standing up against those who are creating misinformation on the topic.
Also Kevin is one of the people behind the excellent resource “Vapers Digest” produced by Vapers.org. Here you will find a great round up of recent THR news – we have appeared on here regularly – for which we are very grateful.
Also you can see and hear him on the Son Of Liberty Radio every Friday night.
Tell me a little about your life and career so far.
I’ve been married 31 years, have two adult children, and a now 5-year-old grandchild. I was in the taxicab industry for 20+ years, and home security industry for 10+ years.
Because this exists, this is my sister and I. Early ’70’s.
Coats under costumes in Taxachussets were always mandatory.
I’m still the sweet one.#HalloweenCostumes. pic.twitter.com/PbsjsiGGaP
— VapingIT, SPE, EEI (@Vapingit) October 24, 2023
Have you smoked? If so how long did you smoke for?
I smoked. I started at 9, and did for about 35 years.
Do you vape? If so when did you start? What was your first kit?
Yep. I tried it in May of 2013. It was a ‘cig-a-like‘. I was unconvinced it would work, sure it wouldn’t. It was a disposable style. I was impressed, and got two “Krave” kits the next day (one for the wife). We both accidentally stopped smoking in under 48 hours.
Hate to disappoint you. It’s 10 years each not smoking for the wife and I. That’s 20 collective years.
We’re not not dead yet.
I’ll keep trying for you.
Anyone else?https://t.co/MZlrohGMu8 https://t.co/IFEetLzdri pic.twitter.com/b9sZZroEIx
— VapingIT, SPE, EEI (@Vapingit) October 13, 2023
How did vaping change your life?
Wow, great question. I thought I’d be a professional smoker (a former co-worker gave me that title) my whole life. Turns out, I stopped.
I came from a long line of proud smokers. It seems my Mom was the only one who didn’t smoke. Breathing being better – very quickly, was the first thing I noticed.
When I got into advocating, I thought I was going to change the world. Turns out, the world, and the wonderful resource of others who had quit with vaping, was changing me – in education, perspective, and finding ‘science’. Turns out everything I believed about what we’re told by various ‘trusted’ sources – isn’t always the truth.
What kits stand out for you in your vaping journey and what is your current set up? What kind of device do you prefer?
I’m not a big gear/equipment guy… I did the cig-a-like, found an Ego / CE4 top pretty quickly, and then eventually moved to a Nautilus tank primarily. Now, my go to is a Zlide Tube/Top. Reminiscent of the Ego, lasting power, great consistency and dependability and easy to show anyone interested how using it isn’t complicated.
-My vaping [tobacco] product caused me to quit smoking🔟+ years ago.
-Multiple unexpected results: better breathing, improved health.
-Strange, my sense of taste & smell came back immediately.
-I became aware of #publichealth lies after about 6 months of use.
Is that normal? pic.twitter.com/B0zUF3w2Ya
— VapingIT, SPE, EEI (@Vapingit) October 19, 2023
What flavour is your preference?
I’m in the minority, and love my tobacco flavour. I occasionally will use other variations of tobacco. My wife, on the other hand… well, she loves flavours. Except tobacco!
When did you first become involved in vaping advocacy / tobacco harm reduction and why?
Toward the end of 2014. I’d heard something fabricated on the news.
The rabbit hole I entered brought me to David Goerlitz and his blog. That, in turn, infuriated me. I decided to channel that anger, and it brought me on a mission to try to help ‘change the conversation’ and change the misperceptions about less harmful alternatives.
Inspired by a conversation my friend and I were having, and importantly, the questions he asked before he tried, among other things, inspired me to do a consumer survey in December of 2014. It was to get a first-hand view of our voices so others could evaluate what they read – and make informed decisions for themselves.
What current roles do you hold within THR? Also explain more about the organization(s) and how you got involved.
I contribute to Vapers Digest and normally do Wednesday’s edition.
I was asked to be on Son Of Liberty Radio and it turned in to a regular conversation every Friday night.
2 minutes and 20 seconds of last nights #sonoflibertyradio. @marewaglover discussing tobacco control's carrot and stick methods of behavior modification and social separation. This is why we fight for #vaping #notAbot #botshit crazy pic.twitter.com/tPJUl0Zbf2
— #sonoflibertyradio (@nachtnoir) October 19, 2019
What current projects / campaigns are you working on?
I am a perpetual chucklehead with Patrick on Son Of Liberty Radio.
What do you feel needs to change regarding tobacco harm reduction Worldwide?
There is no room for pseudoscience or modal verbs and phrases. There is no excuse for professional complacency. Those who have the ‘power’ and ability to stand up need to stand UP and make those who are concealing or ignoring the truth, accountable. Publicly. Few pros do it, and I admire those who do.
Any countries you feel are succeeding in THR?
Sweden – snus!?! Who would’ve thought! Also, while I don’t agree with imposed limitations, the UK.
How would you advise vapers to get involved and stand up for their rights?
To be ultra-aware. To be #louder. Make yourselves known. To be inspired by others, and inspire others. To listen to the content – even when you don’t like it because you may learn something. To ask questions if you don’t know something! There are some VERY smart consumers on Twitter who can decipher ‘research’.
To do things out of our comfort zone. To change the conversation with data and science each appropriate time. To understand what works for you may not work for others. Everyone is different. To see different types of harm reductions methods as having their place, and merit.
Have you ever been “star struck” meeting people who you admire – so who?
I have a list of my favourite humans, but there are SO many – they know who they are! I met Ann and Shannon in Milwaukee in 2016, along with David Goerlitz at the premier of A Billion Lives.
Also I met Dr. Brad Rodu – one I consider being one of the pioneers of THR – here in Ohio during an event.
What is your proudest moment in your advocacy career?
Well, there are a quite a few!
Finding out Dr. Glover had quoted/mentioned my survey response during a Symposium on Ecigs in New Zealand.
Co-interviewing and having conversations with some fabulous people on Son Of Liberty Radio.
Having been identified – with others, as a bot.
When Marc Slis mentioned me in Washington, DC wearing my ugly mug on his shirt.
What would be a campaign you would love to start if there were no obstacles?
Making all public health officials liable and accountable for both their words and actions, and inactions.
Who (or W.H.O. hahaha ) is the biggest enemy when it comes to tobacco harm reduction?
I love this question. Because there are so many, it’s very incestuous, isn’t it? It seems any facet of “public health”. Any organisation, any ‘expert’ suppressing or denying human rights to a less harmful alternative is a threat, and to withhold that is a crime. It’s hard to determine ‘WHO’s’ in charge!
Is there a message you would like to give our readers?
#LOUDER. To be a voice. Join a consumer group. To advocate for whatever works for the informed consumer, your friends, family, fellow humans. Patches, gums, Heat not burn, vaping, snus, acupuncture, books, hypnosis, counselling… do I like them all? Nope, but it’s not about me or you, or what ‘we’ like, what may work for them is first and they all may need a variety of options. Any informed choice literally comes down to a personal preference, and choice.
Finally if you could give an “Ecigclick Award” to any person, product or company in the vaping industry / advocacy circle – who / what would it be?
Hard choice! There are so many wonderful human beings and unsung heroes out there, some are quiet… so I’d nominate every single consumer and vape shop owner and worker for doing what they do, especially Bernie, the vape shop dog(!), Dr. Brad Rodu, and everyone’s significant other who advocates, especially my wife.
Thank You
Thank you Kevin for taking the time to chat with us and for all the work you do exposing misinformation and advocating for safer nicotine alternatives. You are very appreciated!
P.S. – I also adore Bernie the Vape Shop Dog, she is absolutely stunning – as a fellow Bull Breed Owner it is amazing to see them represented positively!
You can find Kevin in the following places…
Twitter: Vapingit
Blog: https://vapinglinks.wordpress.com/
Facebook: Kevin-Crowley
