Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in rehab services without the commitment one would normally have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug rehab program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to resolve significant substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will typically take part in meetings and take part in therapy and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or a few days a week. This is helpful for many who have recently completed a more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a very small number of clients. For an individual with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs which offer rehab on a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial rehab choice.