Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the treatment client to participate in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment facility. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to solve substantial substance abuse issues. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will usually show up at meetings and be a part of counseling and rehab services part-time on a daily basis or a few days per week. This is helpful for individuals who have recently completed a more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, or someone with just a brief history of drug abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For a person with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment centers that provide treatment on a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial treatment alternative.