Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the treatment client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might normally have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab program. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve substantial substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that do decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services part-time daily or a few days each week. This can be very helpful for many who have recently completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with only a brief history of substance abuse which is usually a very small amount of clients. For somebody with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment centers that provide treatment over a long-term basis will be the more effective rehab choice.