Individuals who would like to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the treatment client to participate in rehab services without the commitment one would normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment facility. This doesn't always work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to solve significant drug abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will usually show up at meetings and take part in therapy and rehabilitation services part-time every day or several days each week. This is very helpful for individuals who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a really small amount of clients. For a person with more severe drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers which provide treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more advantageous treatment alternative.