The support services offered after residential rehab are referred to as aftercare. Alcohol rehab centres throughout the UK offer different aftercare services as they see fit. One of the more common services is ongoing counselling. Patients continue seeing their counsellors for at least several months. Counselling can continue for up to a year.
Most facilities encourage rehab graduates to join a local support group as well. Through a support group, a patient can receive additional counselling and other services. Group meetings offer the opportunity for fellowship, encouragement, and accountability.
Finally, prescription medications may be offered in some cases. When they are, they are intended to help the recovering alcoholic avoid the temptation to return to drink. The medications do what they do by creating very unpleasant symptoms should a patient decide to take a drink.