Individuals who would like to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in rehab services with the same commitment one would usually have to agree to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehab program. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to solve substantial substance abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be an opportune option, it isn't for everybody. People who choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily take part in meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services part-time on a daily basis or several days a week. This is often helpful for individuals who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a very small number of clients. For someone with more significant drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities which provide treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective treatment option.