Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the rehab client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment you might normally have to consent to in an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation center. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve substantial drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like an opportune possibility, it isn't for everyone. Those who do decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily take part in meetings and be a part of therapy and rehab services on a part-time basis daily or several days per week. This is often helpful for those who have recently completed an even more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a brief history of substance abuse which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more significant addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs that provide rehab over a long-term basis will probably be the more advantageous rehabilitation alternative.