Individuals who would like to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to in an inpatient or residential drug treatment center. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve significant substance abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and take part in therapy and treatment services on a part-time basis every day or a few days per week. This is very helpful for those who have recently completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, or someone with only a short history of substance abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For someone with more severe drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation programs which provide rehab on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective treatment choice.