# How do actors fake snorting cocaine on camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2001, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651 "2001-09-10T12:29:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/21 "2001-09-10T23:50:07Z")
In an interview with actor Eric Stoltz he said they used powdered vitamin C. He said it was really annoying in that it wouldn’t dissolve and afterwards you had to scrap it out of your nose. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/22 "2001-09-10T23:57:47Z")
Whatever became of Strange de Jim? Well, he found a substitute for cocaine: “You cover Q-tips with sandpaper and ram them up your nostrils as far as they will go. Then you sniff talcum powder while shredding hundred dollar bills.” ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/23 "2001-09-11T00:04:27Z")
Correction made on both accounts, **Johnny**. Since my _friend_ never had a chance to try either pure cocaine, or pure baby laxative, it was easy to be led to think it was the laxative that caused the burn. You know, I’m not sure why I added that tidbit earlier in this discussion, but I did. And since I’d just assume this thread didn’t get locked, I hope that aspect has been resolved. Onward ho! Vitamin C, huh? Well, from what I’ve heard from unreliable… ::Snort:: Oops, can’t do that either. Seriously. I’m still curious what they use when they actually need a shot of someone snorting cocaine. For some odd reason, I always thought they called the prop department for the fake coke. But I guess they don’t. Not that powdered baby milk, Mannitol, or baby laxative couldn’t be used. I was just wondering if it was a set substance. ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/24 "2001-09-11T02:31:42Z")
Mannitol doesn’t burn. These days you’re more likely to get coke cut with MaxAlert or some such caffeine-type pills. The coke, if it’s good, will sting a little, but it’s over momentarily. Good quality crank (or meth, whatever) will bring a tear to your eye, though. And I ain’t providing any cites, either. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/25 "2001-09-12T05:31:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Coke and speed dealers frequently cut their product with baby laxative, which is considered to be harmless. Yes, because the last thing a pusher would want is to have the FDA pull his drug dealing license. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/26 "2001-09-12T05:38:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Nemo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Coke and speed dealers frequently cut their product with baby laxative, which is considered to be harmless. > > Yes, because the last thing a pusher would want is to have the FDA pull his drug dealing license. \*\* Pusher’s depend on repeat business. You cut your product with something that hurts your customer, they are probably not going to buy from you again, and they will tell their friends. Besides, not all drug dealers are evil people who care nothing for their customers. I’ve had a dealer refuse to sell me drugs because he knew what was going on in my life and was afraid I would do something stupid because of my depression. He wasn’t a friend of mine, about the only time I ever went to his house was to buy drugs and then left soon after getting them, but he did care about me somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/27 "2001-09-12T05:50:27Z")
What Badtz said. Back in my, erm, more carefree days, I knew a guy who developed a permanent hacking cough which his doctor told him was caused by talcum powder in his lungs. This guy had bought his speed from the same dealer for some time, so it was pretty obvious who was to blame. I’d be _very_ surprised if this dealer didn’t disappear from the scene (it wasn’t my scene) pretty quickly once word got around - which, trust me, it would have. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651/28 "2001-09-12T14:01:39Z")
In films they use manitol, and if you use coke, you’ve snorted it too. In the UK two other common dilutants are Ibuprofen and Hay fever pills (sold as piriton). Both have the effect of numbing your gums and tongue, usually considered a sign of good quality Gianluca Vialli. Also, its the coke itself that causes the burn, I beleive because the cocaine hydrochloride when mixed with water (nasal mucus) forms a dilute hydrochloric acid, hence people’s septums falling out. Of course if you use the Stevie Nicks trick, none of this need happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-actors-fake-snorting-cocaine-on-camera/80651.md?page=1)