Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the treatment client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment you might usually have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation center. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve substantial drug abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. Those who do choose an outpatient rehab will typically show up at meetings and be a part of counseling and rehab services part-time on a daily basis or several days per week. This is helpful for individuals who have recently completed a far more thorough inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is usually a really small amount of clients. For someone with more severe addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab programs which provide rehabilitation over a long-term basis will probably be the more advantageous rehabilitation choice.