Individuals who wish to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the treatment client to take part in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to address substantial drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be an opportune possibility, it isn't for everyone. People that choose an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and be a part of counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis every day or several days each week. This is often helpful for individuals who have recently completed an even more complete inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a very small number of clients. For a person with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs which offer treatment on a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial rehab alternative.