Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab should they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might usually have to consent to in 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 substantial drug abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those who decide on an outpatient rehab will typically attend meetings and take part in therapy and rehab services part-time each day or a few days a week. This is helpful for individuals who have just completed a much more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with just a brief history of drug abuse which is usually a really small percentage of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment centers which offer treatment on a long-term basis are going to be the more advantageous treatment option.