How did Ron Howard get accidentally high while filming Apollo 13?

Ron Howard accidentally consumed Scopedex, a mixture of scopolamine and Dexedrine, intended for use in a zero-gravity plane for filming, which had an unintended psychoactive effect on him.

What was the purpose of the zero-gravity plane used for Apollo 13?

The zero-gravity plane was used to simulate weightlessness, making the scenes meant to be in space look believable for the movie Apollo 13.

What other behind-the-scenes incident did Ron Howard share?

Ron Howard also shared an experience where he fainted during a physical examination for a film, leading to him losing consciousness and accidentally urinating himself.

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Ron Howard High on Set: Apollo 13 Mishap Revealed

4 Feb

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Summary

Director Ron Howard accidentally got high while filming Apollo 13.
A zero-G plane was used to simulate weightlessness for the film's scenes.
Howard revealed another incident where he lost consciousness during a physical.

Ron Howard High on Set: Apollo 13 Mishap Revealed

In 1995, Ron Howard experienced an unintended psychoactive effect while filming the acclaimed movie Apollo 13. The production utilized a zero-gravity plane to realistically depict scenes in space, requiring the crew to consume a combination of scopolamine and Dexedrine known as Scopedex.

Howard recounted that after taking the mixture, an engine failure prevented them from flying. Unaware of the drug's effects outside a zero-gravity environment, he became hyperactively disoriented. The incident left him realizing the drug's unintended consequences when not used as intended.

In a separate recollection from a 2025 appearance, Howard shared a different behind-the-scenes story. He revealed that during a rigorous physical examination for a film, he experienced an episode of vagovagal syncope, causing him to lose consciousness and urinate himself.