A Safe Haven
(312) 372-6707x122
www.asafehaven.com
2049 West Jarvis Street
Chicago IL 60645

Celebrity Services

Substance abuse treatment services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment, Halfway house
Type of Care: Residential long-term treatment (more than 30 days)

Nail Bed

The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. Like all skin, it has two types of tissues: the deeper dermis, the living tissue fixed to the bone, which contains capillaries and glands; and the superficial epidermis, the layer just beneath the nail plate, which moves forward with the plate. The epidermis attaches to the dermis by tiny longitudinal grooves as the matrix crests or crests of nail matrix. As we age, the plate grows thinner and these ridges become evident in the plate itself. A nail is a horn-like envelope covering the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and toes. The nail is made of a hard protein called keratin. Nails can dry out, just like skin. They can also peel, break, and become infected. The nail protects the ends of the fingers and toes from trauma and helps pick up small objects. Care of the fingernails and toenails is important. Poor nail care causes problems. Recommendations for maintaining nail health include: keeping nails clean and dry in order to keep bacteria and other infectious organisms from collecting under the nails; cutting nails straight across with only slight rounding at the tip; using a fine-textured file to keep nails shaped and free of snags; and avoiding nail-biting. Nail changes, swelling and pain can signal serious problems that may require a physician and medical nail care.

Effective Treatment Duration

Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral changes. In treatment, the drug abuser is taught to break old patterns of thinking and behaving and to learn new skills for avoiding drug use and criminal behavior. Individuals with severe drug problems and co-occurring disorders typically need longer treatment e.g., a minimum of 3 months and more comprehensive services. Early in treatment, the drug abuser begins a therapeutic process of change. In later stages, the individual addresses other problems related to drug abuse and learns how to manage the problem.

Assessment is the First Step in Treatment

A history of drug or alcohol use may suggest the need for a specialist to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the nature and extent of the drug problems of an individual, and establish whether problems exist in other areas that may affect recovery and enable the formulation of an appropriate treatment plan. Personality disorders and other mental health problems are prevalent in offender populations. Comprehensive assessments should include mental health evaluations with treatment techniques that plan for these problems.