Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the rehabilitation client to participate in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might usually have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug rehab center. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve significant drug abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People that decide on an outpatient rehab will usually show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services part-time every day or several days weekly. This is often helpful for many who have just completed a more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, or someone with just a short history of drug abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For a person with more severe drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment centers which provide treatment over a long-term basis will probably be the more effective treatment alternative.