Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the rehabilitation client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to solve significant drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everyone. People that do decide on an outpatient rehab will typically take part in meetings and be a part of counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis daily or a few days a week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a much more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with just a brief history of substance abuse which is really a very small amount of clients. For someone with more severe addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation centers which provide treatment over a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial treatment alternative.