Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the treatment client to take part in rehabilitation services without the commitment you might normally have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to address significant drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People that decide on an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in therapy and rehab services on a part-time basis every day or several days a week. This is often helpful for individuals who have just completed a much more thorough inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with just a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small percentage of clients. For a person with more significant addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab programs which offer treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.