Parents who have never heard of some teens are using to get high on the North Fork and in Riverhead, need to be educated.

So said John Corbett, clinical coordinator at Mary Haven Center of Hope in Riverhead, who works with teens and adults addicted to Molly and other synthetic drugs in the "Steps to Life" program. Molly is the powder or crystal form of MDMA, the chemical used in making ecstasy, said Susan Toman, of the Guidance Center in Southold. MDMA, she said, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that produces feelings of increased energy, euphoria, emotional warmth and empathy toward others, and distortions in sensory and time perception.

Corbett said there are five signs parents can look for to see if their teen has been using Molly: Jaw clenching

Sudden loss of appetite

High and low temperatures

Signs of depression such as sadness

Not being able to get out of bed for an extended period of time Parents whose teens are exhibiting any of those symptoms should be brought to the emergency room, Corbett said.

Toman said parents should also look for changes in behavior, grades, and friends, as well as mood swings and anxiety. Short term effects of the drug include confusion, strange cravings, sleeping problems, memory loss, blurred vision, fever, muscle tension, rapid eye movement, and profuse sweating, Toman said.

One also needs to be aware of the signs of a teen overdosing, Toman said. If a teen has a mental health issue, or a predisposition for a mental health issue, and if there are breathing issues, asthma, or heart problems, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or those physical illnesses run in the family and the teen can be potentially predisposed, the teen then is at higher risk for overdose and long-term damage from Molly, Toman said.

The warning signs of overdose are: headache, tremors, vomiting, collapsing, feeling hot or sick, fainting, loss of control over movement of the body, a racing pulse or heart, problem with urinating, and foaming in the mouth. Death can be a result of using Molly due to seizures and cardiac arrest, Toman said.

Parents can be proactive, Toman said. "Talking to your teen, having healthy conversations regarding your family values, and knowledge regarding the dangers of substance abuse, for anyone, and then more importantly for teens, whose brains are still in development through until their early 20s," are all critical, she said. "Preparing to respond to teens rather than react, when challenged," she added. "This is extremely important. Don't let them isolate from you. Take a deep breath, and if you don't have the answer to their questions or challenges; respond, 'Let's look that up together.' Stay engaged with your teen. You are still the most important influence in their young lives. If the rules in your home have been relaxed and you realize the results are not what you thought they'd be, don't be afraid to have that conversation, make changes, and revisit the rules. This can be a learning curve. Teens need you to stay in charge and aware," Toman said.