Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the rehabilitation client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to resolve substantial drug abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that decide on an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and be a part of therapy and treatment services part-time daily or a few days each week. This can be very helpful for individuals who have just completed a far more thorough inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more serious drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs which provide treatment over a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial rehab choice.