Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment one would usually have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug rehab program. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, specifically those individuals who need to resolve significant substance abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everyone. People that do choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or several days per week. This is very helpful for many who have just completed a far more complete inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with just a short history of drug abuse which is usually a very small number of clients. For someone with more severe addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs that provide rehab on a long-term basis will be the more effective rehab alternative.