Individuals who would like to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to consent to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial drug abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an opportune possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those who do choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily take part in meetings and be a part of therapy and rehab services part-time each day or a few days weekly. This is often helpful for individuals who have recently completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a short history of drug abuse which is usually a really small amount of clients. For someone with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs which provide rehabilitation on a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehab alternative.