Individuals who would like to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment you might normally have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug rehab program. This doesn't always work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, specifically those individuals who need to address significant substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People who decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily attend meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services part-time daily or several days each week. This can be very helpful for those who have just completed a far more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a brief history of substance abuse which is really a really small percentage of clients. For an individual with more severe drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs which offer treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective treatment alternative.