Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need treatment for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the treatment client to participate in rehab services without the commitment one would ordinarily have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment facility. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve significant substance abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and be a part of counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis every day or a few days each week. This is very helpful for many who have just completed a much more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with only a short history of substance abuse which is usually a really small number of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation centers which provide treatment over a long-term basis will be the more advantageous treatment choice.