Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the rehabilitation client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might usually have to agree to in an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehab facility. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial substance abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be an opportune possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that do decide on an outpatient rehab will usually attend meetings and take part in therapy and rehabilitation services on a part-time basis each day or a few days weekly. This can be very helpful for individuals who have just completed a more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with just a brief history of drug use which is really a very small number of clients. For somebody with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment programs which provide rehab over a long-term basis will probably be the more advantageous rehab choice.