Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the treatment client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment program. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to resolve substantial drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an opportune possibility, it isn't for everyone. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily attend meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or a few days per week. This can be very helpful for those who have just completed a more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of drug abuse which is usually a very small number of clients. For an individual with more serious addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs which provide treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective treatment alternative.