Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the treatment client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment program. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial drug abuse issues. So while an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient possibility, it isn't for everyone. Those that decide on an outpatient rehab will generally show up at meetings and be a part of counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or several days per week. This can be very helpful for those who have recently completed an even more thorough inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For someone with more serious addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facilities which provide rehab on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.