Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to take part in rehab services without the commitment one would usually have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment facility. This doesn't always work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve substantial drug abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will generally take part in meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis each day or several days each week. This is often helpful for those who have recently completed a more thorough inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a short history of drug use which is really a very small amount of clients. For an individual with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation centers which provide treatment over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehab option.