Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab should they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to resolve substantial substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those who choose an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and be a part of therapy and rehab services part-time every day or a few days a week. This is often helpful for those who have recently completed a much more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with just a short history of substance abuse which is usually a very small number of clients. For an individual with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facilities that provide rehab on a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehabilitation choice.