# What do they put up their noses \[in movies to look like cocaine\]? etc. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218 "2013-06-29T19:48:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/1 "2013-06-29T19:48:34Z")
I was watching an episode of “House of Cards” Netflix show this evening and one of the characters snorted some white powder. The audience understanding that it was cocaine. He genuinely snorted something white. So my question is: in all these Hollywood films where the characters either snort coke or smoke weed, what are they really doing? Looks real. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/2 "2013-06-29T19:52:04Z")
Since this is basically about movie props, let’s move it to Cafe Society. Thread title edited to better indicate subject. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/3 "2013-06-29T19:55:32Z")
In a lot of movies, the snorting is faked so it just looks like something is going up their nose. Other times it’s: Powdered milk Crushed up vitamin B Powdered sugar Baking powder Soy baby formula Baby powder (I’m assuming this was just for show) Baby laxatives > **[Here's What Actors Are Actually Snorting, Smoking And Drinking In Films](https://www.businessinsider.com/drugs-and-alcohol-in-movies-2012-4?op=1)** ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/4 "2013-06-30T00:15:06Z")
We used powdered sugar for my high school production of Macbeth set in a rave (don’t ask), although Lady Macbeth did it in a way that she could avoid getting the sugar in her nose, after discovering it’s not so fun actually. For weed, it’s either actually cannabis or an herbal mixture, same as with tobacco. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/5 "2013-06-30T00:22:49Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > We used powdered sugar for my high school production of Macbeth set in a rave (don’t ask), although Lady Macbeth did it in a way that she could avoid getting the sugar in her nose, after discovering it’s not so fun actually. > > For weed, it’s either actually cannabis or an herbal mixture, same as with tobacco. I guess high school plays have changed since I was in high school. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/6 "2013-06-30T00:40:31Z")
I knew a guy once who would crush up tylenols (as I recall) and snort them when he ran out of cocaine. He said it helped with the craving. I mean, it’s only kinda related, but still. You can stick a lot of shit up your nose. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/7 "2013-06-30T01:16:32Z")
I don’t think powdered milk is actually used-- I think that’s a misunderstanding of using lactose powder. You want something that’s water-soluble. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/8 "2013-06-30T01:55:20Z")
In _Breaking Bad_, the prop meth is actually rock candy, and sugar or rock candy is also what the actors have in their pipes and puff on in the meth-smoking scenes. Apparently, you’re not supposed to inhale it, as it’s pretty disgusting, although it’s good for eating as a snack. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/9 "2013-06-30T02:01:39Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > We used powdered sugar for my high school production of Macbeth set in a rave (don’t ask), although Lady Macbeth did it in a way that she could avoid getting the sugar in her nose, after discovering it’s not so fun actually. > > . Lady Macbeth: Yet here’s a snort. Out, damned blow! Out, I say! What, will this spoon never be clean? All the Peruvian in suburbia will not sweeten this little spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/10 "2013-06-30T02:34:02Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I guess high school plays have changed since I was in high school. 😉 Heh. One of the best productions of the Scottish play I ever saw was with a college-age cast, with the Japanese costumes, mannerisms and scenery of a Noh play, and with men playing all the female parts, and women playing all the male parts. Bizarre but very, very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/11 "2013-06-30T03:30:43Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Heh. One of the best productions of the Scottish play I ever saw was with a college-age cast, with the Japanese costumes, mannerisms and scenery of a Noh play, and with men playing all the female parts, and women playing all the male parts. Bizarre but very, very interesting. “Under the auspices of Beardsley School, dramatics, dances and other natural activities are not technically sex play, though girls do meet boys, if that is what you object to.” “All right,” I said, my hassock exhaling a weary sign. “You win. She can take part in that play. Provided male parts are taken by female parts.” “I am always fascinated,” said Pratt, "by the admirable way foreigners–or at least naturalized Americans–use our rich language. I’m sure Miss Gold, who conducts the play group, will be overjoyed. Nabokov, _Lolita_ ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/12 "2013-06-30T06:44:30Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > In _Breaking Bad_, the prop meth is actually rock candy, and sugar or rock candy is also what the actors have in their pipes and puff on in the meth-smoking scenes. Apparently, you’re not supposed to inhale it, as it’s pretty disgusting, although it’s good for eating as a snack. It’s not for [DEL]eatin’[/DEL] smokin’. It’s just for lookin’ through. CMC fnord! ---
**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:** [June 30, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/13 "2013-06-30T07:37:27Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > For weed, it’s either actually cannabis or an herbal mixture, same as with tobacco. There was a sketch in the first season of SNL where Chevy Chase, doing his Jerry Ford impersonation, was unsuccessfully trying to roll a joint. According to later claims, they used real marijuana in the scene. ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/14 "2013-06-30T07:43:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There was a sketch in the first season of SNL where Chevy Chase, doing his Jerry Ford impersonation, was unsuccessfully trying to roll a joint. According to later claims, they used real marijuana in the scene. i would bet that in some films they actually use real MJ. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/15 "2013-06-30T08:55:25Z")
Michael J. Fox made a movie called _[Bright Lights, Big City](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094799/combined)_ back in 1988, for which he used milk sugar (not powdered milk as posted on the IMDb trivia page) as he mentioned to the [_New York Times_](http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/10/magazine/bright-lights-big-city-big-trouble.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm) (supposedly [suggested by Al Pacino](http://anecdotage.com/articles/106588/michael-j-fox-milk-trick), though the _NYT_ article doesn’t mention that). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/16 "2013-06-30T11:08:04Z")
Back when I was young and innocent, I toured the backstage area of Miss Saigon here in one of the larger theaters of Chicago. Our guide, one of the actors, showed my family and me a table full of hand props used during the show, including a rather impressive bag of bud. He stammered a bit about how, uh, of course that was, uh, fake (as he hurriedly buried the bag of “fake weed” under the mountain of props) for the, uh, bar scene, just a bit of stage business, and uh…if we’d like to just step this way he’d be happy to show us the helicopter! Many years later, I’m both a bit less young and a bit less innocent. That was some sweet smellin’ ganja, and a whole lot of it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/17 "2013-06-30T17:00:41Z")
In a movie, you can also use camera cuts to fake this sort of thing. Camera on actor, holding rolled-up dollar bill to nose, leaning down towards mirror. Cut to extreme close-up of mirror with a line of powder on it, and the powder being sucked up the end of the rolled bill. Cut to actor, putting down bill and wiping nose. Anyone who watches that scene will see the actor snorting up the powder, without ever realizing that the rolled-up bill wasn’t in the actor’s nose for the extreme close-up. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/18 "2013-06-30T17:30:36Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > For weed, it’s either actually cannabis or an herbal mixture, same as with tobacco. I remember reading an article on Mad Men which said all the cigarettes were some herbal blend. Smoking tobacco in the workplace is prohibited by California law. First Google hit is from [AskMen.com](http://AskMen.com): > [@](#): > > California law actually prohibits the smoking of cigarettes indoors (the show is filmed largely at Los Angeles Center Studios), but nonsmoking actors wouldn’t have much interest in smoking incessantly the way they do on the show anyway. The cigarettes they use are known as herbal cigarettes, and while they don’t contain nicotine, and aren’t made with the same leaves and chemicals found in your standard box of Marlboros, they’re not a whole lot better for you. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/19 "2013-06-30T17:51:10Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > I knew a guy once who would crush up tylenols (as I recall) and snort them when he ran out of cocaine. He said it helped with the craving. I would guess it’s the placebo effect of simply crushing up a white substance and snorting it, seeing as how cocaine isn’t physically addicting. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-they-put-up-their-noses-in-movies-to-look-like-cocaine-etc/662218/20 "2013-06-30T17:52:48Z")
See also: > **[Cocaine in movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=426061)** > > I’ve always been curious about what actors put up their noses when they’re doing coke on film. Baking soda? Powdered sugar? Talcum powder? All sound pretty unhealthy and very painful. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks! > **[cocaine in movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=217379)** > > In many movies I’ve seen, a character snorts lines of coke on a mirror. Why a mirror? Is it some kind of symbolic thing or does it reflect (pun intended) on a real life custom?