Welcome to another of my “THR Superstars” interviews!
This series is to recognise those who work hard to advocate for safer nicotine products and thank them for standing up for those of us who benefit from them!
This week I have been chatting to Richard Pruen who is the main man behind the excellent resource “Safer Nicotine Wiki“. It is run as a Wiki where multiple people add information on safer nicotine alternatives.
Tell me a little about your life and career so far…
I was born in Banwell, Somerset. I have an HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
First non-part-time job was plant engineer at a clinical waste incinerator. I moved on to waste to energy / advanced waste to energy plants.
After that I spent 10 years designing alarm systems and life safety systems, as well as general engineering on pilot plants.
Then I moved to water and wastewater engineering for another 10 years.
I helped develop some early standards in the UK/EU pre-TPD and for a time ran a test house testing products, doing R&D and consulting.
Have you been a smoker? If so how long did you smoke for?
I smoked 60ish a day for years, 1986-2008.
When I stopped accidentally with vaping it was early 2009. I noticed I hadn’t spent money budgeted on tobacco for a month or more.
Sadly I don’t have a quit date like most people, I just don’t know exactly.
Do you vape? If so when did you start? What was your first kit?
Yes, and use Snus. First kit would be a 401 I think, but I’m not 100% sure.
How did vaping change your life?
Smoking 60 a day was killing me it was obvious. Within a year of quitting smoking, breathing and general health improved.
Had asthma since 1982, and a year or so after taking up vaping my peak flows were 110% normal, a few years after that monitoring was stopped because effectively it has gone.
With proof, see medical record screenshot: pic.twitter.com/QL7RbBcaQ4
— Richard Pruen (@PruenRichard) August 5, 2023
In the last 15 years I have had a handful of chest infections, as a smoker it was yearly at least.
What kits stand out for you in your vaping journey and what is your current set up? What kind of device do you prefer?
A torch body 18650 mod with 808 pen style atomiser as the device that finally replaced smoking.
In 2010 at vapefest UK I demoed a DC/DC converter variable volt ‘chipset’ with all protections built in, I believe that was a first. After that things changed rapidly it’s so hard to keep up!
While on old stuff the world first and B prototype vari volt DC/DC converter (UK vapefest 2010) yes tiny! design to go in a ego size battery pic.twitter.com/abCIdaXP3s
— Richard Pruen (@PruenRichard) March 11, 2023
Current device is a Vaporesso GEN-S mod and Dead Goat RDA at 92W and 48mg/ml nicotine strength e-liquid in any sort of fruit flavour.
See perfectly normal, mix berry lemonade 48mg freebase at 92w.
Nothing unusual pic.twitter.com/KWno9CvWnM
— Richard Pruen (@PruenRichard) March 18, 2023
What flavour is your preference?
Fruits and fruit-like mostly,
When did you first become involved in vaping advocacy / tobacco harm reduction and why?
2009 because I thought I should pass forward the improvements in health I had found.
In 2010 my father died of smoking related cancer, and I do so in his name as well. He was a firefighter and hero, he lived to help people and save lives.
Well, @SandroDemaio here is what you are dealing with. I fight to save lives in memory of my father, a hero of a firefighter, pics of one bravery medal below.
He died of cancer from smoking, in his memory I campaign for safer alternatives to deadly cigarettes, so others live! pic.twitter.com/cthLwtMjU8
— Richard Pruen (@PruenRichard) May 28, 2023
What current roles do you hold within THR?
I run the Safer Nicotine Wiki site absolutely from the ground up. It runs on a cluster of Raspberry Pi credit card size computers – the entire thing from the solar panels to the web server software and internet connection.
While I do edit the site sometimes, I primarily keep it running and others do more of the editing and research into pages etc.
Everything is solar powered since it is cheaper and better for the environment.
What current projects / campaigns are you working on?
Possibly the run up to COP10 and the enormous mess the WHO continues to make.
What do you feel needs to change regarding tobacco harm reduction
Worldwide?
I made the wiki, because a platform for sharing and where users could directly create content that would look good without it being difficult.
Any countries you feel are succeeding in THR?
Now Sweden, the UK, EU to a lesser extent and NZ are all doing the sensible thing, hopefully it will continue, and resistance to the prohibition/quit or die strategy will continue.
Do you think the UK might become Anti-vaping?
Anything is possible and if we let it, yes it is entirely possible. The media focus is on the side of bans and restrictions, most not needed they are simply increments towards a total ban.
How would you advise vapers to get involved and stand up for their rights?
Write to your MP, create a page on the wiki or elsewhere with your story whatever it may be. Include a header and stuff to prettify the page, the image and everything will go to e.g. Twitter or Facebook and it looks nice and professional. It’s a shame more don’t do so, it’s great for impact and totally free to use even for those in less well off places.
Have you ever been “star struck” meeting people who you admire – if so
who?
A lot… Clive Bates, Roberto Sussman, Ricardo Polosa, Colin Mendelsohn, Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos and Dr Glover to name a few.
What is your proudest moment in your advocacy career?
Every time someone makes the switch to a safer product and potentially saves their life.
Every time that happens, it’s a win. Whether the wiki does that, or any other thing, the important part is saving lives.
What would be a campaign you would love to start if there were no obstacles?
There are a few on the wiki right now, how to choose a favourite child?
Who (or W.H.O. hahaha) is the biggest enemy when it comes to tobacco harm reduction?
Probably Mike Bloomberg, he is paying for it after all. Without him it would be so much easier, we will win in the end though I am confident. I’m saddened by the loss of life the delay causes, but I won’t be giving up.
Is there a message you would like to give our readers?
Easy the same message as always: If you vape, advocate! Also a thanks to everyone who helps with the wiki, it’s a team effort no one could do that alone.
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?
To every ordinary vaper who does as the last question, just a thank you, you make more difference than you know, keep going. Same for the folks that help the wiki, some remaining anonymous, making a difference, saving lives.
Thank You
I would like to thank Richard so much for taking the time to chat to me.
I recently became involved in the Safer Nicotine Wiki (SNW) and have seen first hand how hard he works to keep the site running and spam free! Loving your work!!
You can find Ecigclick on SNW here.
You can visit the SNW website here and find information on all variations of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) plus many advocates, groups and news. There are some well respected contributors too.
Main topics include…
- People associated with Tobacco Control / THR.
- Consumer advocacy organisations.
- Content producers.
- FAQ’s.
- Media – Movies, Videos, Vlogs, Blogs, OpEds, News etc.
- Myth busting.
- People of note.
- Regulations.
- Safety info.
- Studies, surveys and papers.
- Terminology Glossary.
- Tobacco Control groups.
- THR advocacy groups.
SNW is also on “X” / Twitter – SaferWiki
Connect with Richard on “X” / Twitter – PruenRichard
