Painting - help with popcorn ceilings???

Can anyone tell me the best way to paint a popcorn ceiling? My house is approximately 18 yrs old and I don't think the ceilings have ever been painted since the first time. Any time they are touched they seem to lose little bits of texture. I have tried a roller and it was a real mess. It didn't cover well and was filled with the popcorn particles. Any ideas out there???

melaniekfisher, So sorry to hear about the dreaded unstable acoustical ceiling. This is one of the worst situations you can have as you have found out. There are but two answers as to what to do about them and neither are quick or easy. To paint there is but one way and that is to spray them. If you can't touch them you sure can't brush and roll them. The second thought is since a room has to be emptied and the floors covered to spray would be to go ahead and remove the popcorn and finish slick or retexture with drywall compound in a style that suits you. As I said there is no easy way to handle this but if you do leave the popcorn once sprayed it can be rolled in the future. The cause of this problem is when homes are built the person doing the acoustical work uses water instead of paint to mix the material and we all know why they do that.....Mike