Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehab center. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to address significant drug abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and be a part of therapy and rehab services on a part-time basis every day or a few days weekly. This is helpful for many who have just completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a brief history of drug use which is really a very small amount of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs that provide treatment on a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial treatment alternative.