# Cocaine in the movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613 "2001-02-15T18:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tit\_Whistle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Tit\_Whistle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tit_Whistle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/1 "2001-02-15T18:05:19Z")
Does anyone know what actors do when they have to snort cocaine in a movie? Do they snort some sort of substitute powdery substance–which seems like it might hurt–or is there another way of simulating snortage without actually ingesting? I figure it’s possible to have a small vacuum of some sort at the top end of a rolled-up dollar bill that inhales the coke for them but I don’t know if this actually exists. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/2 "2001-02-15T18:45:56Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Napsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Napsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napsy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/3 "2001-02-15T19:10:42Z")
I remember reading an interview a long time ago with Michael J. Fox where he was talking about some movie that he had just made. In it, his character snorted coke and they used dehydrated milk as a substitute. He said that during the filming of the movie, he caught a cold and when he was out to dinner one night, the dehydrated milk mixed with all the snot in his nose and it looked like milk was pouring out of his nostrils. I have no idea what the movie was called, but I always remembered this story. ---
**Author:** ![likearock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a4c791/32.png) [@likearock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/likearock)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/4 "2001-02-15T19:13:07Z")
Actually, they use the real thing (Oh, you ment ON camera! 🙂 🙂 ) They must use milk sugar, or something like that. Thisreminds me of when I was in summer camp, (about 9 or 10 years old) somehow we got it in our heads to snort Pixi-Styx ™. Big mistake. The most painful expirence of my life, our noses ran for days afterwards. Don’t try that one at home. ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/5 "2001-02-15T19:36:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Napsy \* > \*\* > I have no idea what the movie was called, but I always remembered this story. > > \*\* “Bright Lights, Big City” You’re welcome. My friends and I used to crush up SweetTarts™ and snort them. Hilarity ensued. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/6 "2001-02-15T19:51:17Z")
You may be interested in reading this thread, in which similar issues were discussed: [What do they use to stand in for marijuana in movies?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=50905) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-in-the-movies/54613/7 "2001-02-15T20:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > They must use milk sugar, or something like that. Thisreminds me of when I was in summer camp, (about 9 or 10 years old) somehow we got it in our heads to snort Pixi-Styx ™. Big mistake. The most painful expirence of my life, our noses ran for days afterwards. Don’t try that one at home. That’s right kids–be sure you only snort _real_ cocaine! [sub]Okay, I suppose _that_ wasn’t my most useful or socially responsible post.[/sub]