Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in rehabilitation services without the commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment center. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to address significant substance abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People that choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in therapy and rehabilitation services part-time daily or several days a week. This is very helpful for those who have recently completed an even more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a brief history of substance abuse which is usually a really small amount of clients. For a person with more significant drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehab centers which offer treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more advantageous rehabilitation alternative.