Puffpaw, a vape pen integrated with blockchain technology that promises to “motivate individuals to quit smoking and vaping,” may actually have the opposite effect by keeping users hooked and potentially enticing non-smokers to start vaping.
This viewpoint is shared by a prominent addiction treatment center based in the UK.
Described as a ‘vape-to-earn’ initiative, Puffpaw records your vaping sessions on the Berachain blockchain and rewards you with tokens for reducing your usage.
Despite its intentions, the UK Addiction Treatment Centres (UKAT) believes that the product “will not assist vapers in reducing their consumption. In fact, it may have the opposite effect due to the allure of gamification and cryptocurrency rewards associated with vaping.”
The organization warns that using Puffpaw could lead individuals into a cycle of increased vaping, exacerbating their addiction, and portrays it as a profit-driven strategy targeting individuals striving to quit smoking and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Additionally, UKAT suggests that “Puffpaw’s offering might appeal to smokers as an alternative to cigarettes, but ultimately, it perpetuates a deceptive cycle by creating more vapers.”
During an interview, co-founder Reffo Tse failed to address how Puffpaw intends to address individuals who use the vape pen alongside traditional e-cigarettes. The project also rewards users who ‘bump’ their Puffpaw pens with others using the same device.
Reactions to Puffpaw on X (formerly Twitter) are mixed. One user questioned, “Why would people quit vaping if they are being rewarded with governance tokens for doing so?”
Another user humorously remarked, “It supposedly aids in quitting because you earn tokens with every puff, as if that’s a better alternative than actually quitting. What has become of this industry.”
Vaping Poses Health Risks
Despite being marketed as a safer option to smoking, vaping carries its own health hazards. An analysis of 800 studies revealed that e-cigarettes contain harmful substances that can contribute to lung and heart conditions.
Nonetheless, it is acknowledged by the UK’s National Health Service that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking and is recognized as a cessation tool.
For more information: ‘Controversial or Creative?’ The NEAR marketing ploy divides Crypto Twitter
A study published in Addictive Behaviours uncovered that young individuals who experimented with e-cigarettes were seven times more likely to switch to smoking within a year. The Royal College of Paediatrics has advocated for the prohibition of disposable vapes due to concerns about children’s health, a measure that has been implemented in the UK.
