The Next Crack Cocaine?

But some of the officers are concerned that most rank-and-file officers won't get this training, which is expensive and in high demand. In Prince George's alone, 10 officers are on the long waiting list.

"We've got to get more guys that are actually on the street certified in this," said a Calvert narcotics detective at the training in Quantico, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he works undercover. "I think a lot of guys are probably seeing meth but don't know what it is."

Sgt. Shawn A. Urbas, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel police, said it would be easy for officers to miss a disassembled meth lab -- which might be just a box of tubing and some beakers -- if they had never seen one before. He said that's why the department is focusing on training.

Health officials are also pushing for legislation that would restrict the sale of cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine, one of the ingredients used to manufacture meth. Virginia, like many states across the country, limits such sales, but Maryland and the District do not. Some drugstores are voluntarily restricting sales.

Some former addicts, though, said the best way to stop meth is to educate the public about its dangers. Garza said he was adamantly against drugs -- "I was totally Nancy Reagan about it" -- until a friend offered him meth and he began using it at gay clubs.

Soon he was hooked on the drug -- which causes users to stay up for days at a time -- and at one point partied for seven straight days without sleeping. "I had no idea that that first little bit would alter my life forever," he said.

But it did. After his arrest, Garza lost his job, was evicted from his home and declared bankruptcy. He was able to get treatment, though, and now works as a limo driver. His primary mission is to tell his story so that people realize the dangers of meth.

"Even though it's so obviously here, it's still very hidden. It's very hush-hush," Garza said. "But we're trying very hard to bust the secrecy off of it."