Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might normally have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve significant substance abuse issues. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services part-time daily or a few days a week. This is very helpful for those who have recently completed a far more complete inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a very small number of clients. For an individual with more severe addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs that provide rehabilitation on a long-term basis will be the more beneficial rehab alternative.