Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would usually have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab facility. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve significant substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an opportune possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who decide on an outpatient rehab will generally show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services part-time on a daily basis or a few days a 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, and for someone with just a short history of drug use which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more significant drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment centers which provide treatment on a long-term basis will be the more advantageous treatment choice.