Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab should they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to participate in treatment services without the commitment you might ordinarily have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab facility. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve substantial drug abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those who do choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily attend meetings and take part in therapy and treatment services part-time every day or a few days each week. This is helpful for individuals who have recently completed a much more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with just a short history of drug 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 and alcohol treatment programs which offer treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more beneficial treatment alternative.