Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab makes it possible for the rehab client to participate in rehabilitation services with the same commitment one would ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to address substantial substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everyone. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will typically attend meetings and be a part of counseling and treatment services part-time on a daily basis or a few days a week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with only a short history of drug abuse which is really a very small amount of clients. For somebody with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs which provide rehab over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective treatment choice.