Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to resolve substantial drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who choose an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and be a part of therapy and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or a few days each week. This is helpful for individuals who have recently completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with just a short history of drug use which is usually a really small percentage of clients. For somebody with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment centers which offer treatment over a long-term basis will be the more advantageous rehab alternative.