Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to take part in treatment services without the commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment facility. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those individuals who need to address substantial substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like an opportune possibility, it isn't for everybody. People that choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services on a part-time basis each day or a few days per week. This is very helpful for many who have just completed a much more complete inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a short history of drug use which is usually a very small number of clients. For someone with more severe drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs which provide rehab on a long-term basis will be the more effective treatment alternative.