As if they were drug dealers in training, citizens learned Tuesday how to correctly weigh and package a QP, an OZ and an 8-ball of a certain white powdery substance.

Though since this was a hands-on exercise for a class of the 19th Judicial District Drug Tasks Force's Narcotic Awareness and Resident Counterdrug Training, the powder was merely baking soda.

Those in the class, beforehand, learned from Task Force agents about various types of street drugs, including the signs that someone may be using -- they might be disrespectful to others, depressed, angry, secretive, they may be stealing, have lots of money or be asking for money or may withdraw from friends and family.

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A table in front of Citizen Police Academy students was covered in drugs -- everything from Ecstasy to LSD, along with paraphernalia used to do drugs and common items people use to hide them.

Agents Daryl Pace and Brad Crowe gave the students a crash course in drugs, beginning with a video of police using undercover agents to bust several sales.

Crowe, who worked 12 years with the Clarksville Police Department Drug Unit, said that no matter what anybody thinks, drug use "is a problem."

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