Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehab client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment you might usually have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial drug abuse issues. So while an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. Those who do decide on an outpatient rehab will typically show up at meetings and take part in therapy and rehab services part-time on a daily basis or a few days each week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed an even more thorough inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a very small percentage of clients. For an individual with more serious drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs which offer treatment on a long-term basis will be the more advantageous rehab choice.