Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the treatment client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment one would ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facility. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve significant drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People that do decide on an outpatient rehab will generally take part in meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis every day or a few days each week. This is helpful for those who have recently completed an even more thorough inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small percentage of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities which offer rehab on a long-term basis will be the more beneficial treatment alternative.