Individuals who would like to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehab client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facility. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve significant substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People who decide on an outpatient rehab will typically show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services part-time every day or a few days weekly. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more severe addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab centers which offer rehabilitation over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehabilitation choice.