Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the treatment client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would normally have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve substantial drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an opportune 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 rehabilitation services on a part-time basis every day or several days per week. This is very helpful for many who have just completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, and for someone with only a brief history of substance abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For someone with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab facilities which offer rehab over a long-term basis will probably be the more effective rehab option.